Long-chain n-3 fatty acids in breast milk of Inuit women consuming traditional foods

S M Innis; H V Kuhnlein

doi:10.1016/0378-3782(88)90055-2

Long-chain n-3 fatty acids in breast milk of Inuit women consuming traditional foods

Early Hum Dev. 1988 Dec;18(2-3):185-9. doi: 10.1016/0378-3782(88)90055-2.

Authors

S M Innis¹, H V Kuhnlein

Affiliation

¹ Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

PMID: 3224581
DOI: 10.1016/0378-3782(88)90055-2

Abstract

The fatty acid composition of mature breast milk total lipids was analysed in milk from Inuit women living in a small Arctic community. Long-chain n-3 fatty acids were higher than in comparable samples from Vancouver residents. The data suggest that secretion of n-3 fatty acids in milk is influenced by the dietary intake of the lactating woman. The levels of these fatty acids in Inuit milk approximate those reported for the diet fat of adult Eskimo, and which have been associated with reduced plasma cholesterol levels and death from coronary heart disease.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

British Columbia
Canada
Diet*
Fatty Acids / analysis*
Female
Humans
Inuit*
Milk, Human / analysis*

Substances

Fatty Acids