Effect of complementary food with small amounts of freshwater fish on whole blood n-3 fatty acids in Cambodian infants age 6–15 months. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nurhasan, Mulia; Roos, Nanna; Skau, Jutta KH; Wieringa, Frank T; Friis, Henrik; Michaelsen, Kim F; Dijkhuizen, Marjoleine A; Stark, Ken D; Ritz, Christian; Chhoun, Chamnan; Lauritzen, Lotte
• Is Part Of: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. Volume 135(2018)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Fish-based complementary food -- n-3 LCPUFA status -- Docosahexaenoic acid -- Breastfeeding; Lipids -- Periodicals; Unsaturated fatty acids -- Periodicals; Prostaglandins -- Periodicals; Leukotrienes -- Periodicals; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated -- Periodicals; Acides gras insaturés -- Périodiques; Prostaglandines -- Périodiques; Leucotriènes -- Périodiques; Lipides -- Périodiques; 612.01577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2018.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-3278

Abstract

Highlights: Small amounts of freshwater fish had no impact on infants' n-3 LCPUFA status. Fish-based foods reduced n-6 PUFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in non-breastfed infants. Late cessation of breastfeeding positively correlated with infants' n-3 LCPUFA. Cambodian infants' FA status was better compared to children in developed high-income countries. Abstract: The impact of freshwater fish consumption on the status of long-chain n-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) in infants in landlocked, low-income populations is unknown. We used secondary data from a randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial to evaluate the impact of daily consumption of complementary food products with small amounts of freshwater fish on whole blood n-3 LCPUFA in Cambodian infants. Infants (n = 419), received daily, one of four food products for 9 months. Two products contained freshwater fish: WinFood (10% fish by dry weight) and WinFood-L (12% fish by dry weight), while two products were non-fish-based: corn-soy blends (CSB+ and CSB++). Whole blood fatty acids and breastfeeding status were assessed at baseline and endline of the intervention. The WinFood products contributed to an estimated maximum intake of 86.5 mg/day n-3 LCPUFA. There was no difference in whole blood n-3 LCPUFA among the four intervention groups or between the fish-based and the non-fish-based groups (p ≥ 0.142). At endline, 71% of the children were still breastfed. Interaction analyses indicated a lower ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA in non-breastfed infants in the WinFood groups compared to the CSB groups (pinteraction = 0.026). Thus, a high intake of n-3 LCPUFA from breastmilk may have blurred a potential impact of small amounts of freshwater fish effect on n-3 LCPUFA status in Cambodian infants.