The study showed that the intake of TFA occupies an intermediate position between the values of North America and European countries, reflecting the ongoing transition to industrialised foods in Brazil.

BackgroundLinoleic 18:2 (n-6) and α-linolenic 18:3 (n-3) essential fatty acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are essential nutrients for growth and neonatal development. Consumption of preformed n-3 LC-PUFA has been shown to increase gestational duration and to decrease the incidence of premature birth in human studies. This study evaluated the association of essential fatty acids and LC-PUFA in breast milk on the growth of premature children (weight, height and head circumference).Study designThirty-seven premature infants with a gestational age of 37 weeks or less were followed until 6 months of gestational age, adjusted for prematurity. The milk from mothers, weight, height and head circumference measures of children were collected during the follow up. The breast milk fatty acids were quantified by gas-liquid chromatography.ResultsOur results showed that total n-3 PUFA was positively associated with weight gain (p = 0.05), height (p = 0.04) and body mass index (BMI) of children (p = 0.05). Our results also indicate that both linoleic acid and total essential fatty acids were positively associated with BMI and head circumference, whereas oleic acid was positively associated only with head circumference.ConclusionThese results suggest that the n-3 PUFA composition of milk may be associated with weight gain and growth. Considering the advantages of n-3 LC-PUFA consumption on infant growth and visual function and its association with reduced incidence of premature birth, dietitians should advise pregnant women to increase their intake of foods high in n-3 LC-PUFA.

Although trans fatty acids are known to influence essential fatty acid (EFA) metabolism and serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins, little is known about their effects on the metabolism of mammary glands (MGs) during lactation. In this study, 5 groups of lactating Wistar rats were fed semisynthetic diets containing 7% soy oil (control); 7% partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (7% PHVO); 13% PHVO +7% soy oil (13% PHVO); 5% PHVO +2% soy oil (5% PHVO), and 3.5% PHVO +3.5% soy oil (3.5% PHVO). Dams were killed on the 12th day of lactation. Weight, lipid content (LC), in vivo lipogenesis rate (LR) and activity of the lipogenic (ATP-citrate lyase and malic) enzymes were evaluated in the MGs. Maternal food intake, weight gain, and total MG weight were not found to be significantly different between the groups. The groups with 13, 7 and 5% PHVO presented a lower (p < 0.05) LR in MGs when compared to controls, whereas MG LC was higher in the 7 and 13% groups than in controls. The observed decrease in MG lipogenesis was accompanied by a diminution (p < 0.05) in the activities of ATP-citrate lyase and malic enzymes. These data indicate a potential impairment of lipid metabolism in the MG by trans isomers in lactating rats.