Breast milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) correlates with DHA status of malnourished infants

Aim-To investigate whether low docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega 3; DHA) sta tus of malnourished, mostly breast fed infants is a result of low omega 3 f atty acid intake via breast milk. Methods-Fatty acid composition of breast milk of eight Pakistani mothers, a nd of the erythrocytes of their malnourished children was analysed. Results-The milk of the Pakistani mothers contained low percentages of all omega 3 and most omega 6 fatty acids, compared with milk of Dutch mothers. Breast milk DHA was positively correlated with infant erythrocyte DHA and a rachidonic acid (20:4 omega 6). Conclusion-DHA status of these malnourished children is strongly dependent on the omega 3 fatty acid intake from breast milk. Augmentation of the infa nts' omega 3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status, or the omega 3 a nd w6 fatty acid status in general, by supplementation is indicated in depr ived circumstances where access to fresh fish is difficult. However, in ter ms of prevention, maternal supplementation of these long chain polyunsatura ted fatty acids, preferably from early pregnancy onwards, may be a better o ption.