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Nursing WomenOméga 3NCT01288313

Effect of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation on Human Milk Composition of Lactating Women

A study testing nutritional intervention in people with Nursing Women, run by University Hospital, Bordeaux at 4 sites in France.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

We propose to measure the LCPUFA human milk (linolenic acid, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid) according to fatty acids nature and quantities consumed by lactating women Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 55 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Nursing Women
What is being tested?
nutritional intervention
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
82 participants
Where
4 sitesFrance
Study dates
Sep 2011to Dec 2013
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 55 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Lactating women more than 1 month and less than 4 month with neonate whom term is between 37 and 42 gestational age
  • Women who agree to consume fatty fish two times per week
  • Free consent

Who cannot join

  • Women with multiple infants
  • Chronic treatments more than 8 days
  • Women with treatment during supplementation period
  • Women with maternal pathology not compatible with breastfeed

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country.

France4 sites
  • Lactarium Hôpital Pellegrin Enfants CHU Bordeaux

    Bordeaux, 33076

  • Lactarium CHU La Croix Rousse Lyon Néonatologie et Réanimation Néonatale

    Lyon, 69004

  • Lactarium CHU Montpellier Pédiatrie 2

    Montpellier, 34925

  • Lactarium Institut de Puériculture de Paris et de Périnatalogie

    Paris, 75014

Other trials in France

About this study

Official title: Effect of N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation on the Human Milk Composition of Lactating Women: Nutritional Intervention With Rapeseed Oil and n-3 Margarine Compared to Standard Olive Oil

We propose to measure the LCPUFA human milk (linolenic acid, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid) according to fatty acids nature and quantities consumed by lactating women

Read the detailed description

n-3 and n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are essential particularly to neurodevelopment of newborn infants. Many variations in essential PUFA and LCPUFA content of human milk are observed according to countries and dietary habits of the mothers.

Maternal diet supplementation of LCPUFA of lactating women may increase LCPUFA human milk according to consensus recommendations.

This clinical trial is performed to evaluate the effect of different of consumption of n-3 fatty acids (linolenic acid) in different forms (oils or margarine) in the human milk composition.

Each diet will last 30 days. During the first period of 15 days, the mothers will receive mediterranean diet based on olive oil. Then, lactating women will be randomised into four groups : one group will receive olive oil (standard group), one group supplemented in rapeseed oil, one group with n-3 margarine and one group with diet associating rapeseed oil and n-3 margarine.Human milk will be collected during the first breastfeeding of the day (10 ml) at three times : Days 0 corresponding to the usual diet , at day 15 after the Mediterranean diet and at day 30, after the study diet.

Conditions
Nursing Women
Being tested
nutritional intervention
Keywords
human milk, polyunsaturated fatty acids, linolenic acid, rapeseed oil

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • nutritional interventionDietary supplement

    Each diet will last 30 days. During the first period of 15 days, the mothers will receive mediterranean diet based on olive oil. Then, lactating women will receive 30gr/day rapeseed oil. Human milk will be collected during the first breastfeeding of the day (10 ml) at three times : Days 0 corresponding to the usual diet , at day 15 after the Mediterranean diet and at day 30, after the study diet.

  • nutritional interventionDietary supplement

    Each diet will last 30 days. During the first period of 15 days, the mothers will receive mediterranean diet based on olive oil. Then, lactating women will receive diet associating 30gr/day of rapeseed oil and n-3 margarine. Human milk will be collected during the first breastfeeding of the day (10 ml) at three times : Days 0 corresponding to the usual diet , at day 15 after the Mediterranean diet and at day 30, after the study diet.

  • nutritional interventionDietary supplement

    Each diet will last 30 days. During the first period of 15 days, the mothers will receive mediterranean diet based on olive oil. Then, lactating women will receive with 30gr/day n-3 margarine. Human milk will be collected during the first breastfeeding of the day (10 ml) at three times : Days 0 corresponding to the usual diet , at day 15 after the Mediterranean diet and at day 30, after the study diet.

  • nutritional interventionDietary supplement

    Each diet will last 30 days. During the first period of 15 days, the mothers will receive mediterranean diet based on olive oil. Then, lactating women receive 30gr/day olive oil (standard group. Human milk will be collected during the first breastfeeding of the day (10 ml) at three times : Days 0 corresponding to the usual diet , at day 15 after the Mediterranean diet and at day 30, after the study diet.

Study groups in NCT01288313
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
rapeseed oilExperimentalNot described
Receives: Dietary Supplement: nutritional intervention
n-3 margarine and rapeseed oilExperimentalNot described
Receives: Dietary Supplement: nutritional intervention
n-3 margarineExperimentalNot described
Receives: Dietary Supplement: nutritional intervention
Olive oilActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Dietary Supplement: nutritional intervention

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Acide linolenic 18 :3 n-3 analysis measured at day 30, compared to day 15

    Measured: 30 days

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Analysis of linolenic acid and linoleic acid ratio

    Measured: 30 days

  2. Analysis of arachidonic acid, docosahexanoic acid and their ratio

    Measured: 30 days

  3. Comparison of fatty acid composition of human milk before and after supplementation

    Measured: 30 days

  4. Analysis of trans fatty acids according diets

    Measured: 30 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Feb 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2011
  3. Primary completionDec 2013
  4. Study completionDec 2013

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
82 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01288313
Sponsor's protocol ID
2010/35
Other IDs
2010-A01126-33
Acronym
Oméga 3
Status last verified
Aug 2014
First submitted
31 Jan 2011
Last updated
14 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Lauritzen L, Hansen HS, Jorgensen MH, Michaelsen KF. The essentiality of long chain n-3 fatty acids in relation to development and function of the brain and retina. Prog Lipid Res. 2001 Jan-Mar;40(1-2):1-94. doi: 10.1016/s0163-7827(00)00017-5. No abstract available.

    PubMed 11137568
  • Sauerwald TU, Hachey DL, Jensen CL, Chen H, Anderson RE, Heird WC. Intermediates in endogenous synthesis of C22:6 omega 3 and C20:4 omega 6 by term and preterm infants. Pediatr Res. 1997 Feb;41(2):183-7. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199702000-00005.

    PubMed 9029636
  • Cunnane SC, Francescutti V, Brenna JT, Crawford MA. Breast-fed infants achieve a higher rate of brain and whole body docosahexaenoate accumulation than formula-fed infants not consuming dietary docosahexaenoate. Lipids. 2000 Jan;35(1):105-11. doi: 10.1007/s11745-000-0501-6.

    PubMed 10695931
  • Innis SM, Gilley J, Werker J. Are human milk long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids related to visual and neural development in breast-fed term infants? J Pediatr. 2001 Oct;139(4):532-8. doi: 10.1067/mpd.2001.118429.

    PubMed 11598600
  • Jorgensen MH, Hernell O, Hughes E, Michaelsen KF. Is there a relation between docosahexaenoic acid concentration in mothers' milk and visual development in term infants? J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2001 Mar;32(3):293-6. doi: 10.1097/00005176-200103000-00011.

    PubMed 11345178
  • Simmer K, Patole SK, Rao SC. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD000376. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000376.pub2.

    PubMed 18253974
  • Uauy R, Hoffman DR, Mena P, Llanos A, Birch EE. Term infant studies of DHA and ARA supplementation on neurodevelopment: results of randomized controlled trials. J Pediatr. 2003 Oct;143(4 Suppl):S17-25. doi: 10.1067/s0022-3476(03)00398-6.

    PubMed 14597910
  • Hoffman DR, Birch EE, Castaneda YS, Fawcett SL, Wheaton DH, Birch DG, Uauy R. Visual function in breast-fed term infants weaned to formula with or without long-chain polyunsaturates at 4 to 6 months: a randomized clinical trial. J Pediatr. 2003 Jun;142(6):669-77. doi: 10.1067/mpd.2003.213.

    PubMed 12838196
  • SanGiovanni JP, Berkey CS, Dwyer JT, Colditz GA. Dietary essential fatty acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and visual resolution acuity in healthy fullterm infants: a systematic review. Early Hum Dev. 2000 Mar;57(3):165-88. doi: 10.1016/s0378-3782(00)00050-5.

    PubMed 10742608
  • Innis SM, Adamkin DH, Hall RT, Kalhan SC, Lair C, Lim M, Stevens DC, Twist PF, Diersen-Schade DA, Harris CL, Merkel KL, Hansen JW. Docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid enhance growth with no adverse effects in preterm infants fed formula. J Pediatr. 2002 May;140(5):547-54. doi: 10.1067/mpd.2002.123282.

    PubMed 12032520
  • Jensen CL, Voigt RG, Prager TC, Zou YL, Fraley JK, Rozelle JC, Turcich MR, Llorente AM, Anderson RE, Heird WC. Effects of maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on visual function and neurodevelopment in breastfed term infants. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jul;82(1):125-32. doi: 10.1093/ajcn.82.1.125.

    PubMed 16002810
  • Helland IB, Smith L, Saarem K, Saugstad OD, Drevon CA. Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics. 2003 Jan;111(1):e39-44. doi: 10.1542/peds.111.1.e39.

    PubMed 12509593
  • Fidler N, Sauerwald T, Pohl A, Demmelmair H, Koletzko B. Docosahexaenoic acid transfer into human milk after dietary supplementation: a randomized clinical trial. J Lipid Res. 2000 Sep;41(9):1376-83.

    PubMed 10974044
  • Birch EE, Garfield S, Hoffman DR, Uauy R, Birch DG. A randomized controlled trial of early dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and mental development in term infants. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2000 Mar;42(3):174-81. doi: 10.1017/s0012162200000311.

    PubMed 10755457
  • Innis SM. Human milk: maternal dietary lipids and infant development. Proc Nutr Soc. 2007 Aug;66(3):397-404. doi: 10.1017/S0029665107005666.

    PubMed 17637092

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing nutritional intervention in people with Nursing Women, run by University Hospital, Bordeaux at 4 sites in France.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Acide linolenic 18 :3 n-3 analysis measured at day 30, compared to day 15 (time frame: 30 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01288313, which also lists 22 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 May 2026.

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