title: Reducing dietary intake of linoleic acid of mouse dams during lactation increases offspring brain n-3 LCPUFA content.
abstract: Omega (n-)3 and n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) accumulation in the infant brain after birth is strongly driven by dietary supply of n-3 and n-6 LCPUFAs and their C18 precursors through breast milk or infant formula. n-3 LCPUFA accretion is associated with positive effects on neurodevelopmental outcome whereas high n-6 LCPUFA accumulation is considered disadvantageous. Maternal diet is crucial for breast milk fatty acid composition. Unfortunately, global increases in linoleic acid (C18:2n-6; LA) intake have dramatically increased n-6 LCPUFA and reduced n-3 LCPUFA availability for breastfed infants. We investigated the effects of reducing maternal dietary LA, or increasing n-3 LCPUFA, during lactation on milk and offspring brain fatty acids in mice. Offspring brain n-3 LCPUFA was higher following both interventions, although effects were mediated by different mechanisms. Because of competitive interactions between n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, lowering maternal LA intake may support neurodevelopment in breastfed infants.
authors.affiliation: Nutricia Research, Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: lidewij.schipper@danone.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.affiliation: Nutricia Research, Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oosting
authors.affiliation: GELIFES, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J W
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scheurink
authors.affiliation: GELIFES, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Nutricia Research, Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van der Beek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D019787:Linoleic Acid
keywords: Brain development; Linoleic acid; Maternal diet; Milk; n-3 Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids