Association of DHA Concentration in Human Breast Milk with Maternal Diet and Use of Supplements: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Data from the Japanese Human Milk Study Cohort

Abstract

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>DHA (22:6n–3) is essential for neurodevelopment in children, and its concentration in human breast milk is historically high in Japan. Dietary patterns in Japan might affect the fatty acid (FA) composition among lactating mothers.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Objectives</jats:title> <jats:p>This study aimed to characterize the composition of milk FAs and to identify any dietary and sociodemographic factors associated with the variability of DHA concentration in breast milk in the Japanese population.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>This cross-sectional study was performed as part of the Japanese Human Milk Study. Milk FAs were analyzed by GC at 1–6 mo postpartum, and maternal diet was estimated using an FFQ, including 11 types and cooking methods of seafoods, and the use of DHA supplements. The association of milk DHA with maternal diet and sociodemographic factors was investigated.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Milk FA concentrations were measured in 78 mothers, including 24 who routinely used DHA supplements. The DHA concentration in milk (overall median: 0.62%; IQR: 0.47%–0.78%) was higher in women who took DHA supplements than in women who had never used DHA supplements (0.74%compared with 0.55%; P = 0.011). A linear regression model showed the association of milk DHA concentration with maternal dietary intake of grilled fish (β ± SE: 0.006 ± 0.003; standardized β: 0.234; r2 = 0.232, P = 0.036) after adjustment for DHA supplementation status, maternal and infant age, maternal BMI, and infant birth weight. Other FA concentrations were consistent, whereas caproic acid (6:0), undecylic acid (11:0), pentadecylic acid (15:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1n–7), and vaccenic acid (18:1n–7) varied by DHA supplementation status.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>The DHA concentration in human milk may be influenced by maternal grilled fish consumption and frequent DHA supplementation in lactating Japanese women. Milk DHA concentrations may reflect a dietary habit in Japanese mothers.</jats:p> <jats:p>This trial was registered at www.umin.ac.jp/ctr as UMIN000015494.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Cohort profile: Japanese human milk study, a prospective birth cohort: baseline data for lactating women, infants and human milk macronutrients

“…Open access contributed to various aspects of the literature regarding human milk composition. [31][32][33][34] Osteopontin (OPN) concentration in human milk OPN is a multifunctional protein that is present in various cells, tissues and body fluids. 35 36 Its concentration is the highest in milk and is significantly higher in humans than in cows.…”

“…32 A multivariate linear regression model showed an association between DHA concentration in human milk and maternal dietary intake of grilled fish, which is the most common method of cooking seafood in Japan, after adjustment for DHA supplementation use, maternal and infant age, maternal BMI and infant birth weight. 32 These results will contribute to a better understanding of the FA composition in Japanese human milk. DHA concentrations in human milk in the present study were lower than those reported previously for Japanese samples (mean milk DHA concentration of 0.65% vs 0.99% 39 and 1.09% 40 ), which may reflect the reduced intake of fish in the Japanese population.…”

Inadequate Content of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) of Donor Human Milk for Feeding Preterm Infants: A Comparison with Mother’s Own Milk at Different Stages of Lactation

“…These premature infants are reliant on enteral sources of DHA, most commonly through breast milk [ 13 ]. However, the DHA content in breast milk varies in direct correlation with maternal DHA intake [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], and mothers consuming a Western diet have lower levels of DHA in their milk as commonly DHA intake is below the recommended minimal intake of 450 mg/day for pregnant and lactating women [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Probiotic Supplementation and Human Milk Cytokine Profiles in Japanese Women: A Retrospective Study from an Open-Label Pilot Study

“…Collectively, our study suggests that supplementation with a probiotic mixture during lactation, but not during pregnancy, modified the cytokine profile in mature milk. As dietary supplements are already popular among lactating women in Asian countries, this study also provides a simple regimen for implementing probiotic supplementation [ 30 ], one that does not require administration of probiotics to the infants.…”

“…In particular, mothers who chose the probiotic group were more concerned about their health, and their diets and lifestyles may have influenced the results. n -3 PUFA supplements including fish oil are becoming increasingly popular in pregnant and lactating women in Japan and other East Asian countries [ 30 ], and their usage may affect immune components in breast milk [ 36 ]. However, detailed information on diet was not obtained in this study.…”