/pdf/health-advantages-of-breast-feeding-for-infants-a-critical-30pueef8xm.pdf

Health advantages of breast feeding for infants: a critical review.

The levels of the long chain polyunsaturated n-6 and n-3 fatty acides (PUFA) were studied in colostrum and mature milk of 29 atopic and 29 nonatopic mothers and related to sensitization in their babies during the first 12 mo of life. The levels of α-linolenic acid (LNA) were lower (0.96 versus 1.23 weight percentage, p < 0.01) and the levels of dihomo-γ-linoleic acid were higher (0.36 versus 0.31 weight percentage, p < 0.05) in mature milk from mothers of atopic babies (n = 24) compared with mothers of nonatopic babies (n = 34). The total n-3 levels and the ratio of n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA were similar in colostrum of all mothers and then decreased significantly in mature milk (p < 0.001), particularly in milk given to atopic babies. The levels of the n-6 fatty acids arachidonic acid, C22:4, and C22:5 n-6 correlated in milk samples from nonatopic mothers (r = 0.61-0.97, p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) but were largely absent in colostrum and mature milk from atopic mothers. In contrast, LNA and eicosapentaenoic levels correlated in colostrum from the atopic mothers (r = 0.61-0.88) regardless of atopic sensitization in the infants, whereas LNA correlated to C20:4 n-3 in colostrum from nonatopic mothers of nonatopic infants. Furthermore, the levels of the n-3 fatty acid C20:4 n-3 correlated significantly to all n-6 fatty acids, except linoleic acid (r = 0.64-0.79, all p < 0.01) in mature milk from nonatopic mothers of nonsensitized children. Low levels of LNA and total n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, in mature milk from the mothers, appear to be associated with atopic sensitization early in life, as well as disturbed relationships between the n-3 fatty acid 20:4 and the n-6 fatty acids particularly in mature milk. On the other hand, disturbed relationships within the individual fatty acids in the n-6 series in human milk reflected the atopic status in the mothers. The variations in the lipid composition of human milk could in part explain some of the controversies regarding the protective effects of breast-feeding against allergy.

/pdf/atopic-sensitization-during-the-first-year-of-life-in-3x8t4z22lz.pdf

Atopic sensitization during the first year of life in relation to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in human milk.

Background: A reduced dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids, in association with increased n-6 fatty acid intake, has been proposed as a potential aetiological factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. However the relative importance of individual fatty acids within the n-3 and n-6 categories in this effect has not been widely investigated. We have studied the relation between individual fatty acid intakes, lung function, and self-reported respiratory symptoms and diagnoses in a representative sample of over 13,000 Dutch adults.
 Methods: Intake of individual fatty acids was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire and analysed in relation to measures of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and to questionnaire-reported wheeze, asthma, and COPD symptoms. Results: After adjusting for confounding we found no protective association between individual n-3 fatty acid intakes and FEV1. Higher intakes of some n-6 fatty acids were associated with lower FEV1, this effect being most marked for c22:4 n-6 docosatetraenoic acid (reduction in FEV1 between highest and lowest quintile of intake = 54.5 ml (95% CI -81.6 to -27.4)). Most of the n-6 fatty acid effects interacted significantly with smoking, their effects being strongest in current smokers. Individual n-3 fatty acid intakes were generally associated with a higher risk of wheeze in the past year, but otherwise there was little or no association between fatty acid intake and wheeze, doctor-diagnosed asthma or other respiratory symptoms.
 Conclusions: A high intake of n-3 fatty acids does not appear to protect against COPD or asthma, but high intake of several n-6 fatty acids is associated with a significant reduction in FEV1, particularly in smokers. These findings indicate that high dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids, rather than reduced n-3 intake, may have an adverse effect on lung health.

https://thorax.bmj.com/content/thoraxjnl/63/3/208.full.pdf

The relation between dietary intake of individual fatty acids, FEV1 and respiratory disease in Dutch adults

Dietary fatty acids and inflammatory skin disease.

The total lipid fatty acid composition of mature breastmilk has been analyzed in a group of 25 mothers of children with atopic eczema and compared with breastmilk from 22 controls. Total lipids were extracted into chloroform-methanol (2:1 v/v) and the methyl esters prepared by alkali-catalyzed transesterification were separated by gas liquid chromatography and identified by comparison with standard fatty acid methyl esters. Results show that mothers of children with atopic eczema have a significantly greater proportion of linoleic acid and a smaller proportion of dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid in their total breastmilk lipid than the controls. Proportions of total derived fatty acids similar between groups and there were no differences in the principal saturated and monounsaturated fats. It was concluded that mothers of children with atopic eczema have abnormal breastmilk fatty acid composition. This supports previous evidence of a defect of conversion of linoleic acid into its longchain polyunsaturated metabolites in the condition. (authors)

/pdf/breast-milk-fatty-acids-in-mothers-of-children-with-atopic-1jomyyq4b1.pdf

Breast milk fatty acids in mothers of children with atopic eczema.

We previously have found that monocytes from patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma produce less PGE2 than cells from normal subjects in response to a histamine-induced lymphokine. In order to investigate this observation further, we measured the fatty acid content in the total phospholipids derived from the plasma, red cells, buffy coat cells, neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes of 27 allergic patients and 21 normal controls. There were no substantial differences between atopics and normals in the fatty acid analyses carried out for plasma and red cells. However, linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) levels were elevated significantly in the buffy coat fraction, while arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6) levels were reduced. Measurement of fatty acid levels after fractionation of the buffy coat population into neutrophils and monocytes yielded similar elevations in 18∶2n−6 and reduced 20∶4n−6. In contrast, lymphocytes appeared to have the reverse pattern, i.e., significantly reduced 18∶2n−6 and elevated 20∶4n−6 levels. These data suggest that atopic leukocytes may have altered essential fatty acid metabolism.

/pdf/altered-arachidonic-acid-content-in-polymorphonuclear-and-4fhghczf3f.pdf

Leo Gallant

Papers

Altered arachidonic acid content in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells from patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma