Effect of OMEGA 3 Fatty Acids on Lactation Period
Condition: Lactation Induced
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

      recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months from birth. The
      composition of breast

      milk is dynamic and may vary according to the content of maternal nutrition. Maternal
      nutrition, on the other

      hand, determines the quality of breast milk necessary for the adequate growth and health of
      infants. For this

      reason, the content of the maternal diet is important during the lactation period, which is
      the critical stage that

      can affect the development of infants.

      Omega 3 fatty acids are essential unsaturated fatty acids that are not synthesized by the
      human body and must be obtained through diet. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) most
      abundant in the diet are short-chain omega 3 alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and omega 6 linoleic
      acid (LA), which are mostly found in vegetable oils. ALA is a plant-derived omega 3 fatty
      acid found in flaxseed, walnut, canola and soybean oils. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
      docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are found in marine sources such as seafood and fish oils. Today,
      the use of Omega 3 fatty acid supplements is increasing during the lactation period. However,
      consumption of omega 3 fatty acid sources during pregnancy or lactation is thought to be an
      important factor in preventing cancer risk. In our study, the investigators aimed to compare
      the maternal diet and the consumption of fish oil, flaxseed oil and walnut oil supplements
      during the lactation period, to compare the amount of prolactin and DHA in the milk
      composition and to compare the protective effects against breast cancer with cancer stem cell
      markers. For this study, 32 healthy Wistar pregnant rats, weighing 200-250 g, 8-10 weeks
      pregnant and not included in any experiments, will be used. Supplementary oils will be
      administered by oral gavage, considering the 0.5 g/kg body weight of the pregnant rats
      according to the groups they are assigned to, during the entire standard lactation period
      (day 21), considering the day of birth of the pregnant rats as the 0th day of lactation.
      Mother rats will be sacrificed under anesthesia at the end of the 21st day of lactation,
      mammary tissues will be taken into appropriate solutions and histopathological and
      immunohistochemical examinations will be performed. In addition, cardiac blood will be drawn
      and blood and tissue biochemical analyzes will be performed.
    


Intervention name(s): fish oil; linseed oil; walnut oil
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement
Intervention description(s): fish oil; linseed oil; walnut oil
Observational model: Case-Crossover
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        pregnant rats unpregnant female rats
      
Biospecimen description: 
      breast tissues cells
    
Keywords: lactation; omega 3 fatty acid; fish oil; flaxseed oil; walnut oil; breast cancer