TY - ABST

T1 - The relationship between mothers' and infants' docosahexenoic acid status

AU - Michaelsen, Kim F.

AU - Hernell, Olle

AU - Lauritzen, Lotte

AU - Lund, Pia

AU - Hølmer, Gunhikd

AU - Jørgensen, Marianne Hørby

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - DHA plays a rule for optimal development of visual acuity in formula fed infants. Recently, also studies of breast-fed infants suggest that the DHA level in breast-milk might be of importance. A better understanding of the association between maternal DHA status and DHA status of breast-fed infants is thus of interest. Aim: To investigate the relation between the level of DHA in red blood cells (RBC) and milk of lactating mothers and the RBC DHA levels in their infants. Subjects: 21 mothers and their term infants were examined at 1, 2 and 4 months of age. At each visit, milk samples from the mothers and blood samples from the mothers and the infants were obtained. Milk and RBC PC and PE fatty acid were determined. Results: In the mothers RBC PC DHA level were constant during the period, whereas that of PE decreased (p=0.001). This was paralleled by a decrease of DHA in the milk (p=0.02). In contrast infant DHA status (both PC and PE) was constant during the period. Mothers had lower PC levels than their infants (two way ANOVA repeated measurements, p=0.04), whereas PE levels were only lower at 4 montas (p=0.03). Conclusion: These data indicate a depletion of the DHA stores of breast-feeding mothers. Despite this there was no depletion in infant DHA status.

AB - DHA plays a rule for optimal development of visual acuity in formula fed infants. Recently, also studies of breast-fed infants suggest that the DHA level in breast-milk might be of importance. A better understanding of the association between maternal DHA status and DHA status of breast-fed infants is thus of interest. Aim: To investigate the relation between the level of DHA in red blood cells (RBC) and milk of lactating mothers and the RBC DHA levels in their infants. Subjects: 21 mothers and their term infants were examined at 1, 2 and 4 months of age. At each visit, milk samples from the mothers and blood samples from the mothers and the infants were obtained. Milk and RBC PC and PE fatty acid were determined. Results: In the mothers RBC PC DHA level were constant during the period, whereas that of PE decreased (p=0.001). This was paralleled by a decrease of DHA in the milk (p=0.02). In contrast infant DHA status (both PC and PE) was constant during the period. Mothers had lower PC levels than their infants (two way ANOVA repeated measurements, p=0.04), whereas PE levels were only lower at 4 montas (p=0.03). Conclusion: These data indicate a depletion of the DHA stores of breast-feeding mothers. Despite this there was no depletion in infant DHA status.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749278951&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

AN - SCOPUS:33749278951

VL - 12

SP - A850

JO - F A S E B Journal

JF - F A S E B Journal

SN - 0892-6638

IS - 5

ER -