Breast milk n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and blood pressure: an individual participant meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose It is controversial whether a higher intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC PUFA) through breastfeeding is associated or not to a lower blood pressure (BP) during childhood. We aimed to clarify this point by undertaking a meta-analysis involving the data from seven European birth cohorts. Methods We searched https ://www.birth cohor t.net for studies that had collected breast milk samples, and had at least one BP measurement in childhood. Principal investigators were contacted, and all agreed to share data. One additional study was identified by contacts with the principal investigators. For each cohort, we analyzed the association of breast milk n-3 LC PUFAs with systolic and diastolic BP with linear mixed effects models or linear regression, and pooled the estimates with a random effects model. We also investigated age-specific and sex-specific associations. Results A total of 2188 participants from 7 cohorts were included. Overall, no associations between breast milk n-3 LC PUFAs and BP were observed. In the pooled analysis, each 0.1 wt% increment in breast milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was associated with a 1.19 (95% CI − 3.31, 0.94) mmHg lower systolic BP. Associations were similar for boys and girls and at different ages. Conclusion In this individual participant meta-analysis, we found no evidence for an association between breast milk n-3 LC PUFAs and BP.

Breastfeeding Duration and High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study of Seven Provinces in China

“…However, the authors of that study did not find a significant association between the duration of breastfeeding and BP in a school-based surveillance [ 31 ]. Meanwhile, non-significant associations between breast milk n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and BP were mechanistically detected in one individual participant’s meta-analysis [ 32 ]. This inconsistency could be explained by different study populations, data-collection methods, or other post-natal factors, e.g., childhood growth and feeding type.…”

Environmental Exposure Science and Human Health

“…Cigarette smoking can also alter the composition of breast milk, reducing the intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are important for the child's visual and neurological development. The milk of women who smoke is also low in iodine (which is essential for the formation of thyroid hormones in infants), vitamins (especially vitamin C) and antioxidant factors, thus decreasing protection of the infant against infectious agents [33][34][35][36].…”