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Effect of fish oil on the fatty acid composition of human milk and maternal and infant erythrocytes

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Lipids

Abstract

To examine the effect of fish oil supplementation on the fatty acid (FA) composition of human milk and maternal and infant erythrocytes, five lactating women were supplemented with 6 g of fish oil daily for 21d. Usual maternal diets contained 1,147 mg of total n−3 FA, with 120 mg from very long-chain (>C18) n−3 FA. Supplementation increased dietary levels to 3,092 mg of total n−3 FA and 2,006 mg of very long-chain n−3 FA. Milk samples were collected daily, prior to fish oil ingestion, and at 4-h intervals on days 1, 7, 14 and 21. Milk n−3 FA content increased within 8 h and reached steady state levels within one week. The n−6 fatty acid content decreased. Erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid content increased from 0.24% to 1.4% (P<0.01) in mothers and from 0.11% to 0.70% (P<0.05) in infants. Docosapentaenoic acid increased from 1.4% to 2.2% (P<0.05) in mothers and from 0.30% to 0.78% (P<0.01) in infants. There was no significant change in docosahexaenoic acid or n−6 fatty acid content. Maternal platelet aggregation responses were variable. No differences in milk or plasma tocopherol levels were noted.

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Abbreviations

ADP:

adenosine phosphate

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

FA:

fatty acid(s)

GLC:

gas-liquid chromatography

HPLC:

high-pressure liquid chromatography

P/S:

polyunsaturated/saturated ratio

RDA:

recommended daily allowance

VLC-PUFA:

very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid(s) (longer than C18)

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Author notes

  1. Robin A. Henderson

    Present address: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe St., Brady 301, 21205, Baltimore, MD

  2. Kenneth R. Dardick

    Present address: Mansfield Family Practice, Mansfield Professional Park, 06269-4017, Storrs, CT

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, U-17, University of Connecticut, 3624 Horsebarn Hill Rd. Ext., 06269-4017, Storrs, CT

    Robin A. Henderson, Robert G. Jensen, Carol J. Lammi-Keefe, Ann M. Ferris & Kenneth R. Dardick

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Henderson, R.A., Jensen, R.G., Lammi-Keefe, C.J. et al. Effect of fish oil on the fatty acid composition of human milk and maternal and infant erythrocytes. Lipids 27, 863–869 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535865

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535865

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