Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)-Enriched Human Milk in Premature Newborns

Improvement of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Status in Premature Newborns Following Docosahexaenoic Acid Enrichment of Human Milk

Several recent publications showed a reduction in the level of DHA and/or an increase in the arachidonic acid (AA)/DHA ratio in the milk of mother. We hypothesized that the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status of the premature newborn fed mother's milk is unbalanced because the content of DHA of the milk of mother nowadays is insufficient, whereas scientific arguments point-out the essential role of DHA and balanced AA/DHA ratio of human milk to explain the beneficial role of the breast-feeding at short, medium and long term. We will study the benefits of DHA supplements (TG-DHA versus GPL-DHA) of mothers in PUGA status improvement in their premature newborn consecutive to DHA enrichment and balanced AA/DHA ratio of human milk. GPL-DHA should be more effective than TG-DHA by protecting both n-3 and n-6 fatty acids pathways.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Childbirth between 34 and 35 GA
• Breast-feeding
• Caucasian
• Affiliation to social security
• Obtained consent from mother, and parents for the child
• Mother with balanced diet
• No allergy to eggs
• Single pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to egg
• Unbalanced diet
• Diabetes
• Known digestive disease
• Counter-indication with breast-feeding
• Cigarettes (more than 5 per day)
• Alcoholism (daily consumption of alcohol)
• Multiple pregnancy