Postdelivery changes in maternal and infant erythrocyte fatty acids in 3 populations differing in fresh water fish intakes

Introduction: Long-chain polyunsaturated (LCP) fatty acids (FA) are important during infant development. Mother-to-infant FA-transport occurs at the expense of the maternal status. Maternal and infant FA-status change rapidly after delivery.

Methods: Comparison of maternal (mRBC) and infant erythrocyte (iRBC)-FA-profiles at delivery and after 3 months exclusive breastfeeding in relation to freshwater-fish intakes. Approximation of de-novo-lipogenesis (DNL), stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD), elongation-of-very-long-chain-FA-family-member-6 (Elovl-6), delta-5-desaturase (D5D) and delta-6-desaturase (D6D)-enzymatic activities from their product/essential-FA and product/substrate-ratios.

Results and discussion: Increasing iRBC-14:0 derived from mammary-gland DNL. Decreasing mRBC-omega 9, but increasing iRBC-omega 9, suggest high omega 9-FA-transfer via breastmilk. Decreasing (m+i)RBC-16:0, DNL- and SCD-activities, but increasing (m+i)RBC-18:0 and Elovl-6-activity suggest more pronounced postpartum decreases in DNL- and SCD-activities, compared to Elovl-6-activity. Increasing (m+i)RBC-18:3 omega 3, 20:5 omega 3, 22:5 omega 3, 18:2 omega 6, mRBC-20:4 omega 6 and (m+i)D5D-activity, but decreasing mRBC-22:omega 3 and (m+i)D6D-activity and dose-dependent changes in iRBC-22:6 omega 3 confirm that D6D-activity is rate-limiting and 22:6 omega 3 is important during lactation. Fish-intake related magnitudes of postpartum FA-changes suggest that LCP omega 3 influence DNL-, SCD- and desaturase-activities. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.