5 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Argentinian Human Milk: Is There a Relative Deficiency in N-3 Fatty Acids?

Background: Human milk fat is the main source of energy for breastfed infants. Milk fat also transports lipid soluble vitamins and n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), essential for the proper development of the brain, retina, and other organs. Fatty acids are the only milk lipids that can be altered to any extend by maternal dietary manipulation. Since maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is critical for the newborn, and little information exists regarding the PUFA status of populations living in Southern regions,