Js. Hawkes et al., Transforming growth factor beta in human milk does not change in response to modest intakes of docosahexaenoic acid, LIPIDS, 36(10), 2001, pp. 1179-1181
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with aspects of
immune regulation including cytokine production. The purpose of this study
was to investigate the effect of maternal dietary supplementation with tun
a oil, rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on the concentration of transfor
ming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta1) and TGF beta2 in breast milk. In this
randomized, dietary intervention trial, mothers of term infants consumed a
daily supplement of 2000 mg oil containing either placebo (n = 40), 300 mg
DHA (n = 40), or 600 mg DHA (n = 40). The DHA increase in milk and plasma
was proportional to dietary DHA. There was no relationship between milk DHA
status and TGF beta1 and TGF beta2 levels.