Modification of alpha linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid composition of milk from Chilean lactating women who received pre and post partum alpha linolenic acid intake from chia oil

alpha Linolenic acid (ALA) is essential for humans being precursor of n3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which is fundamental for development of brain and visual systems. Western diet provides low amount of ALA and DHA, which is reflexed in low levels of DHA in maternal milk. Chia oil (Salvia hispanica seeds), available in many Latin American countries, has a high content of ALA (up to 60 percent ) and its consumption is considered an alternative to provide ALA to surpass the deficit of DHA in western population. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate modification of fatty acid profile of milk from mothers who received chia oil during gestation and lactating. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: 60 pregnant women (18 to 38yr) of normal weight, without chronic transmissible diseases and normal lactating, were randomly separated into two groups (n of 30 each): a) control group with normal feeding; b) intervened group which received daily 16 ml chia oil (10.1g ALA per day, separated in four teaspoonfuls) during the 3th trimester pregnancy and six month of lactation. Food consumption was tabulated and controlled. Fatty acid profile of erythrocyte phospholipids taken at six month of pregnancy, at the delivery and at six month of lactating, and fatty acid profile of milk collected during the first six month of lactating was assessed by gas chromatography. RESULTS: Group b), compared to a), showed a significant increase (p less 0.05, t test) of ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid content, a reduction of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid in erythrocyte phospholipids. DHA was not modified. Milk content of ALA increased during six months of sampling. However, DHA increased during the first two months of sampling. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of chia oil (16 mL per day in four portions) during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first six months of lactating significantly increases the milk content of ALA and DHA. (Authors abstract)