scholarly journals Estimated Dietary Intakes of Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Infants and Young Children Living in Developing Countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stewart Forsyth ◽  
Sheila Gautier ◽  
Norman Salem Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Arachidonic Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Background/Aims: There are only few data on dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake in infants from developing countries, and current global recommendations on intake during early life may not reflect the needs of the world's most vulnerable infants. The aim of the study was to provide estimates of intake of ARA and DHA in infants and young children aged 6-36 months who live in developing countries. Methods: FAO Food Balance Sheets and fatty acid composition data from Australian food composition tables were utilized to generate mean per capita intake estimates for DHA and ARA in developing countries. The median daily intake of DHA and ARA in children age 6-36 months in each country was determined by combining the fatty acid composition of breast milk and complementary foods with the estimated intakes being weighted according to median duration of any breastfeeding. Results: The median daily dietary intake for ARA and DHA across 76 developing countries was 64.0 and 48.9 mg/day, respectively. The lowest complementary food intake of ARA and DHA was present in countries with the lowest gross national income and highest birth rates. Conclusion: Global recommendations on ARA and DHA in early life need to reflect the specific needs of infants and families living in low income countries, and country-specific food policies should address gaps between recommended and achieved intakes.

scholarly journals Effect of reduced maternal protein intake in pregnancy in the rat on the fatty acid composition of brain, liver, plasma, heart and lung phospholipids of the offspring after weaning

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham C. Burdge ◽  
Emmanuelle Delange ◽  
Ludivine Dubois ◽  
Rebecca L. Dunn ◽  
Mark A. Hanson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arachidonic Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Acid Content ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Arachidonic Acid Content ◽  
Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition

Reduced protein intake during pregnancy decreased maternal hepatic and plasma docosahexaenoic acid concentrations and impaired docosahexaenoic acid accumulation into fetal brain in the rat. The present study investigated whether restriction of maternal protein intake during pregnancy in the rat alters membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition in the offspring after weaning. Female rats (six per group) were mated and fed diets containing either 180 or 90 g protein/kg throughout pregnancy. Mothers were transferred to standard chow after delivery and the litters reduced to eight pups. Weaning was at 28 d and pups were killed 5 to 6 d later. Tissue weights or membrane total phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) concentrations in the offspring did not differ between dietary groups. There were significant differences between the 180 and 90 g/kg groups in liver, brain, lung and heart fatty acid composition that differed between tissues and phospholipid classes. For example, docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid concentrations were 23 and 10 % lower respectively in hepatic PC, but not PE, in the 90 g/kg group. In brain, docosahexaenoic acid concentration was 17 % lower in PC, but not PE, while arachidonic acid content was 21 % greater in PE but unchanged in PC. The greatest differences were in unsaturated fatty acids, which suggests alterations to desaturase activities and/or the specificity of phospholipid biosynthesis. These results suggest that restricted maternal protein intake during pregnancy results in persistent alterations to membrane fatty acid content.

scholarly journals Dietary Intakes of Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Early Life - With a Special Focus on Complementary Feeding in Developing Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stewart Forsyth ◽  
Sheila Gautier ◽  
Norman Salem Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Arachidonic Acid ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Complementary Feeding ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Complementary Foods

Background: In developing countries, dietary intakes of arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in early life are lower than current recommended levels. This review specifically focusses on the contribution that complementary feeding makes to ARA and DHA intakes in medium- to low-income countries. The aims of the review are (1) to determine the availability of ARA and DHA food sources in developing countries, (2) to estimate the contribution of complementary feeding to dietary intakes of ARA and DHA in infants aged 6-36 months, and (3) to relate the dietary ARA and DHA intake data to key socioeconomic and health indicators. Summary: The primary dietary data was collected by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) using Food Balance Sheets, and fatty acid composition was based on the Australian food composition tables. There is evidence of wide variation in per capita dietary intake for both DHA and ARA food sources, with low intakes of meat and seafood products being highly prevalent in most low-income countries. In children aged 6-36 months, the supply of ARA and DHA from the longer duration of breastfeeding in low-income countries is counterbalanced by the exceptionally low provision of ARA and DHA from complementary foods. The lowest tertile for ARA intake is associated with higher percentages of childhood stunting, birth rate, infant mortality, and longer duration of breast feeding. Key Message: In developing countries, intakes of DHA and ARA from complementary foods are low, and public health organisations need to adopt pragmatic strategies that will ensure that there is a nutritional safety net for the most vulnerable infants.

The Ratio of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid in Infant Formula Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of the Erythrocyte Membrane in Low-Birth-Weight Infants

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Kitamura ◽  
Yohei Kitamura ◽  
Hirokazu Hamano ◽  
Hiromichi Shoji ◽  
Takashi Shimizu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arachidonic Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Infant Formula ◽  
Erythrocyte Membrane ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Low Birth Weight Infants

Objective: The arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents in the infant formula influence on the growth and development of low-birth-weight infants (LBWI). In Japan, many infant formulas are fortified only with DHA. We investigated the safety and efficacy of an infant formula (H2025A) fortified with DHA and ARA (DHA/ARA ratio of 2:1, the same as that in Japanese breast milk). Methods: In this randomized double-blind trial, 35 LBWI were randomly allocated to 2 groups fed with H2025A or an infant formula fortified only with DHA (control formula) after discharge from the NICU. The duration of this study was one month, and the growth and fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membrane were compared between the 2 groups. Results: No difference was found in the body weight gain, height gain and head circumstance gain development between the 2 groups, and no adverse event occurred in both groups. The ARA content of the erythrocyte membrane after feeding for 1 month was significantly higher in the H2025A group than in the control group. On analysis adjusted with the breast-fed ratio, the ARA and DHA contents were significantly higher in the H2025A group. Conclusion: It was suggested that H2025A significantly increased the ARA and DHA contents of the erythrocyte membrane of LBWI compared to the contents of the control formula.

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in pregnancy alters placental fatty acid composition

Placenta ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. A70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa L. Powell ◽  
Christiane Meireles ◽  
Vanessa I. Ramirez ◽  
Evelyn Miller ◽  
Kevin W. Hakala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
In Pregnancy
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