Observational studyEuropean journal of nutrition2019
A cross-sectional study of fatty acids and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in human milk from lactating women following vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore diets.
Observational study in European journal of nutrition, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluating the relationship between the nutrient intake of lactating women and their breast milk nutritional profile: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.The British journal of nutrition · 2024Pooled it
- Article
- Improving the composition of donor milk using machine learning and optimisation techniques.PloS one · 2026Article
- Breast Milk and Brain: The Influence of Iodine and Neurotrophic and Growth Factors on Children's Neurodevelopment-A Secondary Analysis.Journal of family & reproductive health · 2025Article
- Arachidonic acid as a potentially critical nutrient for vegetarians and vegans - position paper of the Research Institute for Plant-based Nutrition (IFPE).Lipids in health and disease · 2025Review
- Composition and Antioxidant Status of Vegan Milk-Pilot Study.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Dietary Patterns, Serum BDNF and Fatty Acid Profiles in Physically Active Male Young Adults: A Cluster Analysis Study.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Influence of Lactation Stage on Content of Neurotrophic Factors, Leptin, and Insulin in Human Milk.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile of Lactating Women Living in Poland-A Comparison with the Fatty Acid Profile of Selected Infant Formulas.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Determination of the Fatty Acid Profile and Lipid Quality Indices in Selected Infant Formulas.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Vegan/vegetarian diet and human milk donation: An EMBA survey across European milk banks.Maternal & child nutrition · 2024Article
- Review
- Major and trace mineral composition of milk from lactating women following vegan, vegetarian and omnivore diets.The British journal of nutrition · 2023Article
- Associations of Dietary Intake and Nutrient Status with Micronutrient and Lipid Composition in Breast Milk of Donor Women.Nutrients · 2023Article
- Risk Assessment of Micronutrients Deficiency in Vegetarian or Vegan Children: Not So Obvious.Nutrients · 2023Review
- Human Milk Composition and Nutritional Status of Omnivore Human Milk Donors Compared with Vegetarian/Vegan Lactating Mothers.Nutrients · 2023Article
- Nutritional Assessment of the Symptomatic Patient on a Plant-Based Diet: Seven Key Questions.Nutrients · 2023Review
- Review
- Content of industrially produced trans fatty acids in breast milk: An observational study.Food science & nutrition · 2022Article
- Lactational Changes of Phospholipids Content and Composition in Chinese Breast Milk.Nutrients · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
purposeEssential fatty acids are critical for brain growth and neurodevelopment in infancy. Maternal diet and supplement use have a significant impact on the fat composition of human milk. The objective of this study is to assess supplement utilization patterns and fatty acid and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations in the breast milk of women following vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore diet patterns.
methodsThis is a cross-sectional, observational study of 74 lactating women in the United States following a vegan (n = 26), vegetarian (n = 22), or omnivore (n = 26) diet pattern. A single breast milk sample was collected from each participant and assessed for fatty acids and BDNF.
resultsMedian unsaturated fatty acids in the breast milk of vegan, vegetarian, and omnivores, as a percentage of total fatty acids, was 66.0, 57.8, and 56.2%, respectively (p < 0.001). Total omega-3 percentages were 2.29% for vegans, 1.55% for vegetarians, and 1.46% for omnivores (p < 0.001). Docosahexaenoic acid percentages were not different by diet pattern, but over 80% of participants had milk concentrations below 0.30% of total fatty acids. Reports of omega-3 supplements use (10/74) and weekly seafood consumption (3/74) were limited. BDNF was not detectable in any samples.
conclusionsBreast milk from vegans had significantly higher unsaturated fat and total omega-3 fats, and lower saturated fats, trans fats, and omega-6 to omega-3 ratios than their vegetarian and omnivore counterparts. Docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in breast milk were low regardless of maternal diet pattern, and were reflective of low seafood intake and supplement use.
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