La teneur en acides gras polyinsaturés du lait maternel : un marqueur biologique fiable du niveau de consommation des populations

¹ NuRéLiCe, UR909, INRA, F 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
² ITERG, Nutrition Métabolisme & Santé, Université Bordeaux 1, avenue des Facultés, 33405 Talence Cedex
³ ISDBC, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, 28 avenue Valrose, Nice 06100, France

^* Philippe.Guesnet@jouy.inra.fr

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are nutritionally important constituents of breast milk to support normal growth, immune function and central nervous system development of newborn infants. Both linoleic acid (18:2 n-6; LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3 ; ALA), the essential fatty acids, precursors of n-6 and n-3 long-chain PUFA. LA and LNA contents in human milk reflect differences in dietary fats consumed by the mothers, including those consumed during several months (long term impact). The composition of breast milk from this point of view is a reliable biological marker of the level of habitual consumption of PUFAs in different populations. An increase of LA content for the 1950-1990 period, without any change of LNA content, has been reported in breast milk of women living in western countries, reflecting changes in LA intake by the mother.