Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Associations between long-chain PUFAs in maternal blood, cord blood, and breast milk and offspring body composition up to 5 years: follow-up from the INFAT study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 458–464 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Limited research suggests that exposure to long-chain PUFAs (LCPUFAs) during perinatal development can influence adipose tissue expansion later in life. In previous analyses, we observed that maternal LCPUFAs in late gestation promote offspring gestational growth, whereas breast milk n-3 LCPUFAS promote adipogenesis in infants up to 1 year. This follow-up analysis examines these relationships in offspring up to 5 years.

Subjects/Methods

In this observational study of 169 children, relationships between n-3, n-6 LCPUFAs, and the n-6/n-3 LCPUFA ratio in maternal blood at 32 weeks’ gestation, cord blood, and breast milk, and anthropometry in offspring from 2 to 5 years were investigated. Body composition was assessed with indirect (i.e., body weight, BMI percentiles, sum of four skinfold thicknesses) and direct (i.e., ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging in a subgroup) measurement tools.

Results

Maternal and cord blood LCPUFAs were largely not shown to be related to offspring body composition. Breast milk n-3 LCPUFAs were significantly positively related to several measurements of child anthropometry at 2 and 4 y, but only a positive relationship between n-3 LCPUFAs and lean body mass remained statistically significant at 5 y. Breast milk n-6/n-3 LCPUFA ratio was inversely related to weight and BMI percentiles at 2 y, and lean body mass at 4 and 5 y.

Conclusions

Results from this follow-up do not provide sufficient evidence that LCPUFAs in maternal blood, cord blood, and breast milk predict offspring adiposity in children up to 5 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alfaradhi MZ, Ozanne SE. Developmental programming in response to maternal overnutrition. Front Genet. 2011;2:27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gluckman PD, Hanson MA, Cooper C, Thornburg KL. Effect of in utero and early-life conditions on adult health and disease. New Engl J Med. 2008;359:61–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Innis SM. Essential fatty acid transfer and fetal development. Placenta. 2005;26:S70–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ailhaud G, Guesnet P. Fatty acid composition of fats is an early determinant of childhood obesity: a short review and an opinion. Obes Rev. 2004;5:21–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ailhaud G, Guesnet P, Cunnane SC. An emerging risk factor for obesity: does disequilibrium of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism contribute to excessive adipose tissue development? Br J Nutr. 2008;100:461–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hauner H, Vollhardt C, Schneider KT, Zimmermann A, Schuster T, Amann-Gassner U. The impact of nutritional fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation on early human adipose tissue development. Rationale and design of the INFAT study. Ann Nutr Metab. 2009;54:97–103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rodriguez G, Iglesia I, Bel-Serrat S, Moreno LA. Effect of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during the perinatal period on later body composition. Br J Nutr. 2012;107:S117–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lapillonne A, Carlson SE. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and infant growth. Lipids. 2001;36:901–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martinez-Victoria E, Yago MD. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and body weight. Br J Nutr. 2012;107:S107–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wood K, Mantzioris E, Lingwood B, Couper J, Makrides M, Gibson RA, et al. The effect of maternal DHA supplementation on body fat mass in children at 7 years: follow-up of the DOMInO randomized controlled trial. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2018;139:49–54.

  11. Muhlhausler BS, Yelland LN, McDermott R, Tapsell L, McPhee A, Gibson RA, et al. DHA supplementation during pregnancy does not reduce BMI or body fat mass in children: follow-up of the DHA to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;103:1489–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hauner H, Much D, Vollhardt C, Brunner S, Schmid D, Sedlmeier EM, et al. Effect of reducing the n-6:n-3 long-chain PUFA ratio during pregnancy and lactation on infant adipose tissue growth within the first year of life: an open-label randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:383–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Brei C, Stecher L, Much D, Karla MT, Amann-Gassner U, Shen J, et al. Reduction of the n-6:n-3 long-chain PUFA ratio during pregnancy and lactation on offspring body composition: follow-up results from a randomized controlled trial up to 5 y of age. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;103:1472–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Donahue SM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Gold DR, Jouni ZE, Gillman MW, Oken E. Prenatal fatty acid status and child adiposity at age 3y: results from a US pregnancy cohor. t Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93:780–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Moon RJ, Harvey NC, Robinson SM, Ntani G, Davies JH, Inskip HM, et al. Maternal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid status in late pregnancy is associated with offspring body composition in childhood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98:299–307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Standl M, Thiering E, Demmelmair H, Koletzko B, Heinrich J. Age-dependent effects of cord blood long-chain PUFA composition on BMI during the first 10 years of life. Br J Nutr. 2014;111:1–8.

  17. Much D, Brunner S, Vollhardt C, Schmid D, Sedlmeier EM, Bruderl M, et al. Effect of dietary intervention to reduce the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio on maternal and fetal fatty acid profile and its relation to offspring growth and body composition at 1 year of age. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013;67:282–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Much D, Brunner S, Vollhardt C, Schmid D, Sedlmeier EM, Bruderl M, et al. Breast milk fatty acid profile in relation to infant growth and body composition: results from the INFAT study. Pediatr Res. 2013;74:230–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Brei C, Much D, Heimberg E, Schulte V, Brunner S, Stecher L, et al. Sonographic assessment of abdominal fat distribution during the first year of infancy. Pediatr Res. 2015;78:342–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung. Wie ernähre ich mich in Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit? (German Nutrition Society. Booklet on Healthy Eating during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.) Cited March 2011.

  21. Weststrate J, Deurenberg P. Body composition in children: proposal for a method for calculating body fat percentage from total body density or skinfold thickness measurements. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989;50:1104–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kromeyer-Hauschild K, Wabitsch M, Kunze D, Geller F, Geiß H, Hesse V, et al. Percentiles of body mass index in children and adolescents evaluated from different regional German studies. Mon Kinderheilkd. 2001;8:807–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Horan M, Gibney E, Molloy E, McAuliffe F. Methodologies to assess paediatric adiposity. Ir J Med Sci. 2015;184:53–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Beermann C, Mobius M, Winterling N, Schmitt JJ, Boehm G. sn-position determination of phospholipid-linked fatty acids derived from erythrocytes by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry. Lipids. 2005;40:211–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lepage G, Roy CC. Improved recovery of fatty acid through direct transesterification without prior extraction or purification. J Lipid Res. 1984;25:1391–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Hakola L, Takkinen HM, Niinisto S, Ahonen S, Erlund I, Rautanen J, et al. Maternal fatty acid intake during pregnancy and the development of childhood overweight: a birth cohort study. Pediatr Obes. 2017;12:26–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Rolland-Cachera MF, Deheeger M, Maillot M, Bellisle F. Early adiposity rebound: causes and consequences for obesity in children and adults. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006;30:S11–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Koletzko B, Braun M. Arachidonic acid and early human growth: is there a relation? Ann Nutr Metab. 1991;35:128–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lauritzen L, Hoppe C, Straarup EM, Michaelsen KF. Maternal fish oil supplementation in lactation and growth during the first 2.5years of life. Pediatr Res. 2005;58:235–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Delgado-Noguera MF, Calvache JA, Bonfill Cosp X, Kotanidou EP, Galli-Tsinopoulou A. Supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) to breastfeeding mothers for improving child growth and development. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;7:Cd007901.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Asserhoj M, Nehammer S, Matthiessen J, Michaelsen KF, Lauritzen L. Maternal fish oil supplementation during lactation may adversely affect long-term blood pressure, energy intake, and physical activity of 7-year-old boys. J Nutr. 2009;139:298–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the parents and children who participated in the INFAT study.

Funding information

Supported by grants from the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation, Bad Homburg; the International Unilever Foundation, Hamburg; the European Union-funded Early Nutrition Programming Project (EARNEST) consortium (FOOD-CT-2005-007036); the German Ministry of Education and Research via the Competence Network Obesity (Kompetenznetz Adipositas, 01GI0842); and Danone Research-Centre for Specialized Nutrition, Friedrichsdorf, Germany.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Center for Nutritional Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Dorothy Marie Meyer, Christina Brei, Lynne Stecher, Daniela Much, Stefanie Brunner & Hans Hauner

Authors
  1. Dorothy Marie Meyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christina Brei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lynne Stecher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Daniela Much
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stefanie Brunner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hans Hauner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hans Hauner.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Meyer, D.M., Brei, C., Stecher, L. et al. Associations between long-chain PUFAs in maternal blood, cord blood, and breast milk and offspring body composition up to 5 years: follow-up from the INFAT study. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 458–464 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0388-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0388-3

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links