DHA Supplementation during Pregnancy and Lactation Affects Infants' Cellular but Not Humoral Immune Response

Abstract EN

Background.

It is currently recommended that diet of pregnant mothers contain 200–300 mg DHA/day.

Aim.

To determine whether DHA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation affects infants' immune response.

Methods.

60 women in ≥3rd pregnancy studied; 30 randomly assigned to receive DHA 400 mg/day from 12th week gestation until 4 months postpartum.

From breast-fed infants, blood obtained for anti-HBs antibodies, immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subset phenotyping, and intracellular cytokine production.

Results.

CD4+ lymphocytes did not differ between groups, but CD4CD45RA/CD4 (naïve cells) significantly higher in infants in DHA+ group.

Proportion of CD4 and CD8 cells producing IFNγ significantly lower in DHA+ group, with no differences in proportion of IL4-producing cells.

Immunoglobulins and anti-HBs levels did not differ between groups.

Conclusions.

In infants of mothers receiving DHA supplementation, a higher percentage of CD4 naïve cells and decreased CD4 and CD8 IFNγ production is compatible with attenuation of a proinflammatory response.