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

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.

Effects on metabolic markers are modified by PPARG2 and COX2 polymorphisms in infants randomized to fish oil

“…Erythrocytes (RBC) were isolated from heparinized blood samples, washed, and kept at -80°C for later analysis, as described elsewhere (Lauritzen et al 2004). The content of specific fatty acids was calculated as area % of the specific fatty acid relative to the total identified chromatogram area (FA %), which is almost equivalent to % by weight.…”

Maternal fish oil supplementation in lactation: effect on developmental outcome in breast-fed infants

“…Around 80% of the infants completed the mental follow-up measures reported in the present paper, resulting in a power to show a difference between the randomized groups of around 0.6 SD of functional outcome. The details of the study design and recruitment procedure, which have been reported elsewhere [29], are described briefly here.…”

“…All drop-outs were due to choices made by the participants (as explained in [29]), none of the mothers were excluded for lack of compliance with supplements or the breast-feeding request. During this period 107 mothers complied with the criteria for exclusive breastfeeding.…”

“…A reference group of mothers with a habitual fish intake in the upper quartile of the population were also included. The effect on the fatty acid composition of breast-milk and infant erythrocytes (RBC) and visual acuity has been published [29], as have effects on later blood pressure and Maternal n-3 LCPUFA intake and infant development 537 body composition [30,31]. FO-supplementation increased the DHA content of breastmilk and infant erythrocytes (RBC), but this was not found to improve infant visual acuity [29].…”

“…The effect on the fatty acid composition of breast-milk and infant erythrocytes (RBC) and visual acuity has been published [29], as have effects on later blood pressure and Maternal n-3 LCPUFA intake and infant development 537 body composition [30,31]. FO-supplementation increased the DHA content of breastmilk and infant erythrocytes (RBC), but this was not found to improve infant visual acuity [29]. Also no difference was found in blood pressure at 2.5 years of age [31], but the body mass index of the children at that age was significantly higher in the FOsupplemented group [30].…”