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Maternal fish oil supplementation in lactation: Effect on visual acuity and n−3 fatty acid content of infant erythrocytes

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Lipids

Abstract

Studies on formula-fed infants indicate a beneficial effect of dietary DHA on visual acuity. Cross-sectional studies have shown an association between breast-milk DHA levels and visual acuity in breast-fed infants. The objective in this study was to evaluate the biochemical and functional effects of fish oil (FO) supplements in lactating mothers. In this double-blinded randomized trial, Danish mothers with habitual fish intake below the 50th percentile of the Danish National Birth Cohort were randomized to microencapsulated FO [1.3 g/d long-chain n−3 FA (n−3 LCPUFA)] or olive oil (OO). The intervention started within a week after delivery and lasted 4 mon. Mothers with habitual high fish intake and their infants were included as a reference group. Ninety-seven infants completed the trial (44 OO-group, 53 FO-group) and 47 reference infants were followed up. The primary outcome measures were: DHA content of milk samples (0, 2, and 4 mon postnatal) and of infant red blood cell (RBC) membranes (4 mon postnatal), and infant visual acuity (measured by swept visual evoked potential at 2 and 4 mon of age). FO supplementation gave rise to a threefold increase in the DHA content of the 4-mon milk samples (P<0.001). DHA in infant RBC reflected milk contents (r=0.564, P<0.001) and was increased by almost 50% (P<0.001). Infant visual acuity was not significantly different in the randomized groups but was positively associated at 4 mon with infant RBC-DHA (P=0.004, multiple regression). We concluded that maternal FO supplementation during lactation did not enhance visual acuity of the infants who completed the intervention. However, the results showed that infants with higher RBC levels of n−3 LCPUFA had a better visual acuity at 4 mon of age, suggesting that n−3 LCPUFA may influence visual maturation.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index

DNBC:

Danish National Birth Cohort

FA%:

percentage of total FA

FFQ:

Food Frequency Questionnaire

FO:

fish oil

HF-group:

reference group, the members of which consumed quantities of fish above the 74th percentile

LCPUFA:

long-chain PUFA

logMAR:

the logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution

MUFA:

monounsaturated FA

OO:

olive oil

RBC:

red blood cells

SFA:

saturated FA

SWEEP-VEP:

swept visual evoked potential

VEP:

visual evoked potential

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Hillerød Hospital, Denmark

    Marianne H. Jørgensen

  2. Maternal Nutrition Group, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Statens Serum Institut, Denmark

    Tina B. Mikkelsen & Sjúrdur F. Olsen

  3. Department of Mathematics and Physics, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark

    Ib M. Skovgaard

  4. BioCentrum-DTU, Biochemistry & Nutrition, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

    Ellen-Marie Straarup & Carl-Erik Høy

  5. Center for Advanced Food Studies, Dept. of Human Nutrition, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Rolighedsvej 30, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Lotte Lauritzen & Kim F. Michaelsen

Authors
  1. Lotte Lauritzen
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  2. Marianne H. Jørgensen
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  3. Tina B. Mikkelsen
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  4. Ib M. Skovgaard
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  6. Sjúrdur F. Olsen
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  7. Carl-Erik Høy
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  8. Kim F. Michaelsen
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Correspondence to Lotte Lauritzen.

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Lauritzen, L., Jørgensen, M.H., Mikkelsen, T.B. et al. Maternal fish oil supplementation in lactation: Effect on visual acuity and n−3 fatty acid content of infant erythrocytes. Lipids 39, 195–206 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1220-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1220-8

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