Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
International Breastfeeding Journal
Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Fish intake reflects on DHA level in breast milk among lactating women in Latvia

Authors: Līva Aumeistere, Inga Ciproviča, Dace Zavadska, Viktors Volkovs

Published in: International Breastfeeding Journal | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid required for proper growth and development. DHA levels in breast milk vary worldwide. Higher levels are observed among coastal populations and are associated with marine food consumption. Latvia is located in Northern Europe, on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Nevertheless, fish consumption among women of reproductive age is low. The aim of this study was to determine DHA levels in breast milk among lactating women in Latvia.

Methods

Invitation to participate in the study was posted on a social media member group for breastfeeding mothers. In total, 71 women were enrolled from November 2016 until December 2017. DHA levels (% of total fatty acids) in breast milk were measured by gas chromatography. Information about food consumed during the three consecutive days prior to the milk sampling was obtained and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed. Information about maternal and infant characteristics, current breastfeeding pattern and milk expression method was also collected.

Results

The mean age of participants was 31 ± 4 years and the mean BMI was 22.1 ± 3.2. 27 participants were primiparas. The average age and birth weight for infants (34 males, 33 females) was 6 ± 4 months and 3.46 ± 0.55 kg, respectively. The median DHA level in breast milk (n = 60) was 0.30 ± 0.18% of total fatty acids and it was not influenced by any of the maternal or infant’s characteristics nor current breastfeeding pattern or milk expression manner (p > 0.05). Fish intake was a positive predictor for DHA levels in breast milk (r = 0.318, p = 0.013). Average maternal DHA intake was 136 ± 26, 137 ± 33 and 178 ± 49 (SEM – standard error of the mean) mg, for the third, second and last day prior to sampling day, respectively.

Conclusions

DHA levels in breast milk among lactating women in Latvia correspond to the suggested target DHA value in breast milk (0.30%). Fish consumption is a significant positive predictor for DHA levels in breast milk, however, daily DHA intake among the participants was lower than recommended (200 mg).
Literature
1.
2.
Innis SM. Human milk: maternal dietary lipids and infant development. Proc Nutr Soc. 2007;66(3):397–404.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Koletzko B, Lien E, Agostoni C, Böhles H, Campoy C, Cetin I, et al. The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation and infancy: review of current knowledge and consensus recommendations. J Perinat Med. 2008;36(1):5–14.CrossRefPubMed
4.
5.
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJC. Maternal milk DHA concentration predicts cognitive performance in a sample of 28 nations. Matern Child Nutr. 2015;11(4):773–9.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Innis SM. Impact of maternal diet on human milk composition and neurological development of infants. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;99(3):734S–41S.CrossRefPubMed
7.
8.
Innis SM. Metabolic programming of long-term outcomes due to fatty acid nutrition in early life. Matern Child Nutr. 2011;7(Suppl 2):112–23.CrossRefPubMed
9.
10.
Goyens PL, Spilker ME, Zock PL, Katan MB, Mensink RP. Conversion of alpha-linolenic acid in humans is influenced by the absolute amounts of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in the diet and not by their ratio. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84(1):44–53.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Pawlosky RJ, Hibbeln JR, Novotny JA, Salem N Jr. Physiological compartmental analysis of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans. J Lipid Res. 2001;42(8):1257–65.PubMed
12.
Francois CA, Connor SL, Bolewicz LC, Connor WE. Supplementing lactating women with flaxseed oil does not increase docosahexaenoic acid in their milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77(1):226–33.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Gibson RA, Muhlhausler B, Makrides M. Conversion of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), with a focus on pregnancy, lactation and the first 2 years of life. Matern Child Nutr. 2011;7(Suppl 2):17–26.CrossRefPubMed
14.
15.
Fidler N, Sauerwald T, Pohl A, Demmelmair H, Koletzko B. Docosahexaenoic acid transfer into human milk after dietary supplementation: a randomized clinical trial. J Lipid Res. 2000;41(9):1376–83.PubMed
16.
Francois CA, Connor SL, Wander RC, Connor WE. Acute effects of dietary fatty acids on the fatty acids of human milk. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67(2):301–8.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Quinn EA, Kuzawa CW. A dose-response relationship between fish consumption and human milk DHA concentration among Filipino women in Cebu City. Philippines Acta Paediatr. 2012;101(10):e439–45.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Olang B, Hajifaraji M, Ali MA, Hellstrand S, Palesh M, Azadnyia E, et al. Docosahexaenoic acid in breast milk reflects maternal fish intake in Iranian mothers. Food Nutr Sci. 2012;3:441–6.
19.
Brenna JT, Varamini B, Jensen RG, Diersen-Schade DA, Boettcher JA, Arterburn LM. Docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid concentrations in human breast milk worldwide. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(6):1457–64.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Bahrami G, Rahimi Z. Fatty acid composition of human milk in western Iran. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59(4):494–7.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Nishimura RY, de Castro GSF, Junior AAJ, Sartorelli DS. Breast milk fatty acid composition of women living far from the coastal area in Brazil. J Pediatr. 2013;89(3):263–8.CrossRef
22.
Silva MHL, Silva MTC, Brandão SCC, Gomes JC, Peternelli LA, Franceschini SCC. Fatty acid composition of mature breast milk in Brazilian women. Food Chem. 2005;93(2):297–303.CrossRef
23.
Fidler N, Salobir K, Stibilj V. Fatty acid composition of human milk in different regions of Slovenia. Ann Nutr Metab. 2000;44:187–93.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Wu T, Lau B, Chen P, Wu L, Tang R. Fatty acid composition of Taiwanese human milk. J Chin Med Assoc. 2010;73(11):581–8.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Thakkar SK, Giuffrida F, Cruz-Hernandez C, de Castro C, Mukherjee R, Tran L, et al. Dynamics of human milk nutrient composition of women from Singapore with a special focus on lipids. Am J Hum Biol. 2013;25(6):770–9.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Liu MJ, Li HT, Yu LX, Xu GS, Ge H, Wang LL, et al. A correlation study of DHA dietary intake and plasma, erythrocyte and breast milk DHA concentrations in lactating women from coastland, Lakeland, and inland areas of China. Nutrients. 2016;8(5):312.CrossRefPubMedCentral
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Jackson KH, Harris WS. Should there be a target level of docosahexaenoic acid in breast milk? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2016;19(2):92–6.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Brenna JT, Lapillonne A. Background paper on fat and fatty acid requirements during pregnancy and lactation. Ann Nutr Metab. 2009;55(1–3):97–122.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Gibson RA, Neumann MA, Makrides M. Effect of increasing breast milk docosahexaenoic acid on plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acids and neural indices of exclusively breast fed infants. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1997;51:578–84.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Kent JC, Mitoulas LR, Cregan MD, Ramsay DT, Doherty DA, Hartmann PE. Volume and frequency of breastfeeding and fat concentration of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics. 2006;117(3):e387–95.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Smit EN, Martini IA, Mulder H, Boersma ER, Muskiet FA. Estimated biological variation of the mature human milk fatty acid composition. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2002;66(5–6):549–55.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Simopoulos AP. The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed Pharmacother. 2002;56(8):365–79.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Bernard JY, Armand M, Peyre H, Garcia C, Forhan A, De Agostini M, et al. Breastfeeding, polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in colostrum and child intelligence quotient at age 5–6 years. J Pediatr. 2017;183:43–50. e3CrossRefPubMed
38.
Lassek WD, Gaulin SJ. Linoleic and docosahexaenoic acids in human milk have opposite relationships with cognitive test performance in a sample of 28 countries. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2014;91(5):195–201.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Juber BA, Jackson KH, Johnson KB, Harris WS, Baack ML. Breast milk DHA levels may increase after informing women: a community-based cohort study from South Dakota USA. Int Breastfeed J. 2016;12:7.CrossRefPubMed
40.
41.
Makrides M. Outcomes for mothers and their babies: do n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and seafoods make a difference? J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108(10):1622–6.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Fish intake reflects on DHA level in breast milk among lactating women in Latvia
Authors
Līva Aumeistere
Inga Ciproviča
Dace Zavadska
Viktors Volkovs
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
International Breastfeeding Journal / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4358
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-018-0175-8

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

International Breastfeeding Journal 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research

Pilot testing of the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly toolbox in Ghana

Research

Uncovering the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding for mothers living in Dhaka’s slums: a mixed method study

Research

Perception of donor breast milk and determinants of its acceptability among mothers in a developing community: a cross-sectional multi-center study in south-east Nigeria

Case Report

Using donor human milk to feed vulnerable term infants: a case series in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Research

Factors associated with a low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay in urban and semi-rural areas of southern Vietnam

Retraction Note

Retraction Note: Determinants of suboptimal breastfeeding practice in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study