Earlier smoking habits are associated with higher serum lipids and lower milk fat and polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the first 6 months of lactation

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relation between maternal smoking habits, plasma lipids and milk fatty acid (FA) content and composition. Design: Breastfeeding mothers who gave birth to healthy, full-term infants were recruited. Mothers were interviewed on smoking habits, being defined smokers (S) when usually smoking at least five cigarettes per day before pregnancy. Setting: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy. Subjects: In total, 92 mothers: 61 non-S (NS) and 31 S. Interventions: Pooled hindmilk was collected at the first raise of milk (colostrum stage), 1, 3 and 6 months, and total lipid (TL) content and fatty acid (FA) composition were evaluated. Maternal dietary habits were assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire. Two subsamples (16 NS, 6 S) were investigated after delivery and at 3 months for serum lipids and FA status. At 6 months after delivery, the number of mothers still breastfeeding decreased to 30. Variables were compared using nonparametric tests. Results: In smoking mothers serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins were higher, while those of high-density lipoproteins were lower. TL content in breast milk was similar in the two groups just after delivery but higher in milk from NS at 1 month. TL content and FA absolute amounts of linoleic, arachidonic, a-linolenic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid in breast milk were lower in S vs NS 1 month after delivery. Also 3 months after delivery, the breast milk of smoking mothers contained less DHA than the breast milk of nonsmoking mothers. Conclusions: Maternal cigarette smoking in early pregnancy is associated with higher plasma lipid levels and lower milk TL and DHA content in the first months of lactation.

Reduced Docosahexaenoic Acid Synthesis May Contribute to Growth Restriction in Infants Born to Mothers Who Smoke

“…Our observations are consistent with lower total fat and DHA content of the milk from smoking mothers compared to non-smokers 8 and with a reduced synthesis rate of DHA from ALA in smokers 9 and breast cells exposed to products of cigarette smoke. 10 In 30-weeks gestational age preterms born to mothers reporting both smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, DHA levels were higher at birth and rapidly decreased post-nataly, but the effects of alcohol and maternal smoking were not separated.…”

Maternal smoking habits are associated with differences in infants' long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in whole blood: a case-control study

“…An associated increase in the 18 carbon precursor of the n-3 series, alpha-linolenic acid, ALA, was also noted 7. Our observations were consistent with earlier results showing that milk from smoking mothers had lower total fat and DHA content than milk from non-smokers8 and with the reduced rate of synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in breast cells exposed to products of cigarette smoke compared with those that had not been exposed 9…”

“…Even considering the reduced LCPUFA content in the milk of smoking mothers,8 9 the limited milk volume intake of infants during the first 4 days of life would have a minimal effect on infants’ circulating LCPUFA. So, the differences observed in the neonatal LCPUFA pattern could mainly be ascribed to the direct effects of maternal smoking on LCPUFA metabolism and transport within separate compartments (maternal size, placenta and the fetus).…”

Prenatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Promotes Adult Atherogenesis and Mitochondrial Damage in Apolipoprotein E −/− Mice Fed a Chow Diet

“…In contrast, other reports claim decreased total cholesterol levels at 19 weeks of gestation in pregnant women who smoke. 44 Still others claim that smoking is associated with higher total cholesterol levels in pregnant women 45,46 ; however, both reports that claimed higher total cholesterol levels with smoking also showed that the average birthweight of children was higher in smoking mothers.…”