Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición (Sep 2009)
Efecto de una bebida láctea con DHA en la composición de ácidos grasos del glóbulo rojo, de la leche materna y en el recién nacido Consumption of a DHA-enriched milk drink by pregnant and lactating women, on the fatty acid composition of red blood cells, breast milk, and in the newborn
Abstract
En Chile el consumo de EPA y DHA es mucho menor a las recomendaciones internacionales. Para mejorar el aporte de omega-3 en el embarazo y lactancia desarrollamos una bebida láctea fortificada con 60 mg de DHA y 14 mg de EPA por 200/ml. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar su efecto en embarazo, parto y recién nacido, composición lipídica de los glóbulos rojos y de la leche materna. Se estudió una cohorte de embarazadas que recibieron dos Kg/mes del nuevo producto (GE n = 175) o la misma cantidad de la leche en polvo que distribuye el Ministerio de Salud (GC n =177). Se analizó consumo de la bebida láctea y otros alimentos fuentes de EPA y DHA y las características del embarazo, parto y recién nacido. En una submuestra de cada grupo se analizó al ingreso y a los 60 días la composición de los ácidos grasos de membranas del glóbulo rojo de la madre y de la leche materna a los 2 meses post parto. El 16 y 53% de la muestra no consumía pescado o mariscos respectivamente y menos del 25% consumía pescado en forma semanal. La intervención aumentó el aporte diario de DHA de 48,8 mg (IC 38,7 - 57,5) a 147,8 mg (IC 128,4 - 167,9) (p EPA and DHA consumption in Chile is markedly below international daily intake recommendations. For improvement of such low intake level, we developed a fortified powdered dairy drink, containing 60 mg/serving of DHA and 14 mg/serving of EPA. Objectives: to evaluate the effects of DHA consumption during pregnancy, parturition, and in the newborn, on lipid composition of red blood cell membranes and levels of DHA and EPA on human milk during lactation. One hundred and seventy five (175) pregnant women received 2 kg/month of the fortified powdered dairy drink (GE), and 177 received the regular milk provided by the Ministry of Health (GC). We monitored daily intake of the dairy drink and all other sources of DHA and EPA in the diet, and measured general biological indicators during pregnancy, parturition, and in the new born. On a subsample of 14 women on each group (GE and GC), we measured fatty acid composition of red blood cell membranes after 0 and 60 days of consumption with the fortified dairy drink, and levels of DHA and EPA on human milk after 2 months of lactation. Of all women in the study, 16% had no consumption of fish, and 53% had no consumption of sea food. Less than 25 % of all women had fish on a weekly basis. Consumption of the fortified dairy drink tripled intake of DHA, from 48.8 mg/day (CI 38.7-57.5) to 147.8 mg/day (CI 128.4-167.9) (p<0.001). The GE group had a higher content of DHA on the phospholipids of red blood cell membranes: 11.1% (CI 10.2- 13.0) versus 17.9% (CI 12.9-23.0) (p<0.002). Concentration of DHA and w-3 fatty acids increased 50% in milk of women consuming the fortified dairy drink (p<0.06). There was a lower incidence of preterm parturitions on the GE group (2.8 vs 10.6%), but without statistical significance. The consumption of the fortified dairy drink produced a significant increase of DHA consumption during pregnancy and lactation, and an improved composition of red blood cell membranes, as well as in human milk, proving to be an appropriate intervention strategy for the target population.
