Breast milk n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and blood pressure: an individual participant meta-analysis

Lenie van Rossem*, Henriette A. Smit, Martine Armand, Jonathan Y. Bernard, Hans Bisgaard, Klaus Bonnelykke, Signe Bruun, Barbara Heude, Steffen Husby, Henriette B. Kyhl, Kim F. Michaelsen, Ken D. Stark, Carel Thijs, Rebecca K. Vinding, Alet H. Wijga, Lotte Lauritzen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose It is controversial whether a higher intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC PUFA) through breastfeeding is associated or not to a lower blood pressure (BP) during childhood. We aimed to clarify this point by undertaking a meta-analysis involving the data from seven European birth cohorts.

Methods We searchedfor studies that had collected breast milk samples, and had at least one BP measurement in childhood. Principal investigators were contacted, and all agreed to share data. One additional study was identified by contacts with the principal investigators. For each cohort, we analyzed the association of breast milk n-3 LC PUFAs with systolic and diastolic BP with linear mixed effects models or linear regression, and pooled the estimates with a random effects model. We also investigated age-specific and sex-specific associations.

Results A total of 2188 participants from 7 cohorts were included. Overall, no associations between breast milk n-3 LC PUFAs and BP were observed. In the pooled analysis, each 0.1 wt% increment in breast milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was associated with a 1.19 (95% CI - 3.31, 0.94) mmHg lower systolic BP. Associations were similar for boys and girls and at different ages.

Conclusion In this individual participant meta-analysis, we found no evidence for an association between breast milk n-3 LC PUFAs and BP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)989-998
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Nutrition
Volume60
Issue number2
Early online date20 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

Keywords

  • Breastfeeding
  • Blood pressure
  • Fatty acids
  • Children
  • FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTATION
  • DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID
  • ARACHIDONIC-ACID
  • LATER LIFE
  • HEART-RATE
  • LACTATION
  • INFANCY
  • PREVENTION
  • CHILDHOOD
  • PREGNANCY

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