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Maternal and pediatric nutrition

Factors associated with plasma n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in Tanzanian infants

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 97–105 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

To identify factors associated with plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels among 3-month-old Tanzanian infants.

Subjects/Methods

Infants (n = 238) and mothers (n = 193) randomly selected from participants in the neonatal vitamin A supplementation randomized controlled trial. A cross-sectional study of maternal–infant pairs at 3 months postpartum.

Results

All infant total, n-3, n-6, and individual PUFA levels were correlated with maternal levels. Infant plasma n-3 PUFA levels were higher when maternal n-3 PUFA levels were higher (mean difference in infant % fatty acid per unit increase in maternal levels ± standard error: 0.79 ± 0.08; P < 0.01). Infant plasma docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels were positively associated with maternal DHA levels (0.77 ± 0.09; P < 0.01) but were lower for twin births (−0.55 ± 0.27; P = 0.03). Greater birth weight in kilograms (1.00 ± 0.43; P = 0.02) and higher maternal n-6 PUFA levels (0.20 ± 0.07; P < 0.01) were positively associated with higher infant n-6 PUFA levels, whereas maternal mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels (−0.26 ± 0.08; P < 0.01), maternal mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) (−0.22 ± 0.11; P = 0.04), and male sex (−0.99 ± 0.45; P = 0.03) were associated with lower infant plasma n-6 PUFA levels. Infant plasma arachidonic acid (AA) levels were positively associated with maternal plasma AA levels (0.38 ± 0.09; P < 0.01), but inversely associated with twin births (−1.37 ± 0.67; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Greater birth weight and higher maternal plasma PUFA levels at 3 months postpartum were significantly associated with higher infant plasma PUFA levels at 3 months age. Twin births, male sex, and higher maternal MUFA levels were associated with lower infant plasma PUFA levels. Nutrition counseling for optimal intake of PUFA-rich foods, to lactating mothers in resource-limited settings may be beneficial for improved infant health.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the mothers and their infants for participating voluntarily in this study and the communities where the primary trial was carried out for their support and cooperation. We thank the health authorities in the three municipals of Ilala, Kinondoni, and Temeke in Dar es Salaam, and Kilombero, Ulanga, and Kilosa districts in Morogoro region. We thank the coordinators, supervisors, research assistants, field supervisors, field interviewers, and health and demographic surveillance system staff at Ifakara Health Institute for their commitment during the implementation of the primary trial.

Funding

The parent trial was funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the World Health Organization (grant no: OPPGH5297). The funder had no role in the design, analysis, or writing of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Pili Kamenju, Ellen Hertzmark, Emily R. Smith, Ramadhani A. Noor, Christina Briegleb, Christopher Sudfeld & Wafaie W. Fawzi

  2. Division of Epidemiology, Departments of Medicine and Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Edmond K. Kabagambe

  3. Africa Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Alfa Muhihi, Ramadhani A. Noor & Salum Mshamu

  4. Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Honorati Masanja

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  1. Pili Kamenju
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Contributions

PK: analysis plan, data analysis, interpretation of analysis results, and writing this article; HM and WWF: designed the original neonatal vitamin A (NEOVITA) trial, the present study being a secondary analysis of data collected in NEOVITA; EH, EKK and WWF: provided statistical guidance in data analysis; EH, EKK and WWF: provided guidance in interpretation of analysis results; ERS, AM, SM, CB and RAN: participated in field implementation of the primary trial; all authors have provided comments on earlier drafts of the paper and read and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Pili Kamenju.

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Kamenju, P., Hertzmark, E., Kabagambe, E.K. et al. Factors associated with plasma n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in Tanzanian infants. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 97–105 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0428-7

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