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Objective: To determine whether maternal diet supplementation with omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LC-PUFAs) during the last trimester of pregnancy and the breastfeeding period influences the levels of inflammatory cytokines in mother and infants., Material and Method: This registered, double-blind randomized study included 46 pregnant women, who were randomly allocated to either an experimental group receiving 400mL/day of a fish oil-enriched dairy drink [320mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + 72mg eicoapentaenoic acid] (FO group, n = 24) or to a control group receiving 400mL/day of a non-supplemented dairy drink (CT group, n = 22), from week 28 of pregnancy until the fourth month of lactation. During the study, maternal dietary patterns were monitored by a nutritionist, who encouraged compliance with current recommendations of fatty acids intake. DHA concentrations and cytokine levels (GM-CSF, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ and TNF-α) were measured in maternal plasma at the moment of recruitment and in maternal (n = 46) and infant (n = 46) plasma at birth and 2.5 months after birth., Results: Maternal plasmatic IL-4 levels were higher in FO than in CT subjects (p = 0.009). Additionally, a tendency was observed to higher IL-10 and IL-2 in the FO group. Plasmatic IL-6 however, was higher in CT mothers (p = 0.001). TNF-α was higher in CT infants at birth and 2.5 months after birth (p = 0.005). An analysis of possible relationships between DHA and the concentrations of different cytokines revealed negative correlation between maternal plasmatic IL-6 and DHA (higher plasmatic DHA corresponded to lower IL-6)., Conclusions: Maternal dietary omega-3 LC-PUFAs supplementation during critical periods like pregnancy, lactation and early newborn development may influence the levels of certain inflammatory cytokines, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting an anti-inflammatory "environment"., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is controversy about fish-oil supplementation and oxidative damage. This ambiguity should be explored to elucidate its role as modulator of oxidative stress, especially during gestation and postnatal life. This is the objective of this study. One hundred ten pregnant women were divided in two groups: control group CT (400 mL/day of the control dairy drink); supplemented group FO (400 mL/day of the fish oil-enriched dairy drink (±400-mg EPA-DHA/day)). Different biomarkers of oxidative damage were determined in the mother's at enrolment, at delivery and at 2.5 and 4 months postpartum and newborns at delivery and at 2.5 months postpartum. Omega-3 LC-PUFA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation decreased plasma hydroperoxides especially in newborn at delivery (P = 0.001) and 2.5 months (P = 0.006), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in mothers at delivery (P = 0.024 (SOD)) and after 2.5 months (P = 0.040 (CAT)) and in newborns at 2.5 months (P = 0.035 (SOD); P = 0.021 (CAT)). Also, supplementation increased α-tocoferol in mothers at 2.5 months (P = 0.030) and in umbilical cord artery (P = 0.039). Higher levels of CoQ10 were found in mothers at delivery (P = 0.039) as well as in umbilical cord vein (P = 0.024) and artery (P = 0.036). Our supplementation prevents the oxidative stress in the mother and neonate during the first months of postnatal life, being a potential preventive nutritional strategy to prevent functional alterations associated with oxidative stress that have an important repercussion for the neonate development in the early postnatal life., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether a dairy drink enriched with ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) could have an impact on the lipid profile of the mother and the newborn, and also whether this intervention could affect the newborns' visual and cognitive development., Methods: A total of 110 pregnant women were randomly assigned to one of the following intervention groups: control group (n = 54), taking 400 mL/day of the control dairy drink, and supplemented group (fish oil [FO]) (n = 56), taking 400 mL/day of the fish oil-enriched dairy drink (including ∼400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid-docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]/day). During the study, the mothers' diets were supervised by a nutritionist to encourage compliance with present recommendations of FA intake. Blood fatty acid profiles were determined in the mother's (at enrollment, at delivery, and at 2.5 and 4 months) and newborn (at delivery and at 2.5 months) placenta and breast milk (colostrum and at 1, 2, and 4 months). Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) (at 2.5 and 7.5 months) and Bayley test (at 12 months) were recorded., Results: DHA percentage was higher in plasma, erythrocyte membranes, and breast milk samples from the FO group. The ratio of nervonic acid was also higher in plasma and erythrocyte lipids of the mother and newborn's blood samples from the FO group. No differences were observed in the Bayley test. No differences were observed in VEPs between both groups. We observed a shorter latency, however, in the lower visual angle (7.5') in the boys of the supplemented group., Conclusions: Omega-3 LC-PUFA dietary supplement during pregnancy and lactation influenced the mother and newborn's fatty acid profile and nervonic acid content but did not show effects on visual and cognitive/psychomotor development.

Background. Evidence has shown that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially the ω -3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are beneficial for bone health and turnover. Objectives. This review summarizes findings from both in vivo and in vitro studies and the effects of LC PUFA on bone metabolism, as well as the relationship with the oxidative stress, the inflammatory process, and obesity. Results. Some studies in humans indicate that LCPUFA can increase bone formation, affect peak bone mass in adolescents, and reduce bone loss. However, the cellular mechanisms of action of the LCPUFA are complex and involve modulation of fatty acid metabolites such as prostaglandins, resolvins and protectins, several signaling pathways, cytokines, and growth factors, although in certain aspects there is still some controversy. LCPUFA affect receptor activator of nuclear factor κ β (RANK), a receptor found on the osteoclast, causing bone resorption, which controls osteoclast formation. Conclusions. Since fatty acids are an endogenous source of reactive oxygen species, free radicals alter the process of bone turnover; however, although there are clinical evidences linking bone metabolism and dietary lipids, more clinical trials are necessary to prove whether ω -3 PUFA supplementation plays a major role in bone health.