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Updated: May 29, 2026
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Published on: March 13, 2014
Postdelivery changes in maternal and infant erythrocyte fatty acids in 3 populations differing in fresh water fish
Remko S Kuipers1, Martine F Luxwolda, Wicklif S Sango
1Laboratory Medicine, Room Y 3.181, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. remkokuipers@hotmail.com
Introduction:
Long-chain polyunsaturated (LCP) fatty acids (FA) are important during infant development. Mother-to-infant FA-transport occurs at the expense of the maternal status. Maternal and infant FA-status change rapidly after delivery.
Methods:
Comparison of maternal (mRBC) and infant erythrocyte (iRBC)-FA-profiles at delivery and after 3 months exclusive breastfeeding in relation to freshwater-fish intakes. Approximation of de-novo-lipogenesis (DNL), stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD), elongation-of-very-long-chain-FA-family-member-6 (Elovl-6), delta-5-desaturase (D5D) and delta-6-desaturase (D6D)-enzymatic activities from their product/essential-FA and product/substrate-ratios.
Results And Discussion:
Increasing iRBC-14:0 derived from mammary-gland DNL. Decreasing mRBC-ω9, but increasing iRBC-ω9, suggest high ω9-FA-transfer via breastmilk. Decreasing (m+i)RBC-16:0, DNL- and SCD-activities, but increasing (m+i)RBC-18:0 and Elovl-6-activity suggest more pronounced postpartum decreases in DNL- and SCD-activities, compared to Elovl-6-activity. Increasing (m+i)RBC-18:3ω3, 20:5ω3, 22:5ω3, 18:2ω6, mRBC-20:4ω6 and (m+i)D5D-activity, but decreasing mRBC-22:6ω3 and (m+i)D6D-activity and dose-dependent changes in iRBC-22:6ω3 confirm that D6D-activity is rate-limiting and 22:6ω3 is important during lactation. Fish-intake related magnitudes of postpartum FA-changes suggest that LCPω3 influence DNL-, SCD- and desaturase-activities.
