3.1. Breastmilk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) correlates with DHA status of malnourished infants

Objective: To investigate whether low docosahexaenoic acid (22:6ω3; DHA) status of malnourished, mostly breastfed infants is due to low ω3-fatty acid intake via breastmilk. Methods: The fatty acid composition of the breastmilk of 8 Pakistani mothers and that of the erythrocytes (RBC) of their malnourished children was analysed. Results: The milk of the Pakistani mothers contained low percentages of all ω3 and most ω6-fatty acids, compared with milk of Dutch mothers. Breastmilk DHA was positively correlated with infant RBC DHA and arachidonic acid (20:4ω6). Conclusion: DHA status of these malnourished children is strongly dependent on the ω3fatty acid intake from breastmilk. Augmentation of the infants’ ω3-LCPUFA status, or the ω3 and ω6-FA status in general, by supplementation is indicated in deprived circumstances with a difficult access to fresh fish. However, in terms of prevention, maternal supplementation of these LCPUFAs, preferably from early pregnancy onwards, may be a better option in these circumstances.