Docosahexaenoic Acid in Mature Breast Milk of Low-Income Mothers

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is among the main components of synaptosomal membranes and myelin sheaths. Since DHA is essential for child neurodevelopment, breast milk DHA levels should be improved by optimizing maternal nutrition. We determined DHA percentage levels in breast milk of low-income mothers receiving care at the public healthcare sector. We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional study in breast milk samples from 39 exclusively breastfeeding adult mothers with normal fetal and neonatal history. Samples were collected 90 ± 7 days after delivery. Breast milk fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. The cut-off value of DHA was 0.3% of total fatty acids in milk according to recommendations. Median DHA in milk was 0.14% (0.12–0.21). Breast milk DHA levels were lower than the minimum recommended in 92% of samples. The analysis of breast milk samples from low-income exclusively breastfeeding mothers showed that they did not reach the minimum recommended DHA percentage. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Silvana Visentin, IDIP – Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas "Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri", Hospital de Niños "Sor María Ludovica" de La Plata,Calle 63 N° 1069, 1900 La Plata, Argentina (e-mail: silvisentin@hotmail.com). Received 6 June, 2018 Accepted 29 December, 2018 This study received funding from IDIP. Author Contribution Silvana Visentin: conception of study design, acquisition and analysis of samples, drafting and revision of the final version of the work. Agustina Malpeli: concpetion of study design and carrying out of nutritional questionnaires. Victoria Fasano: conception of study design and biostatistical analysis of data. Mariana Falivene: clinical assessment of mothers, sample collection and revision of the final version of the work. Betiana E. Malizia: clinical assessment of mothers, sample collection and revision of the final version of the work. Horacio F. González: conception of study design, drafting and revision of the final version of the work. All authors approved the final version of the work to be published. Conflicts of interest and Source of Funding: The authors report no conflicts of interests. © 2019 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology,

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