1. Introduction
’s milk formula
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) abundant in fish, is crucial for infant brain development. We investigated the associations between maternal dietary habits, infant feeding patterns, and serum levels of DHA and other LCPUFAs in infants aged 5–6 months in Japan, where fish consumption is high. This cross-sectional study used serum samples from 268 infants enrolled in a randomized clinical trial. The frequency of mothers’ consumption of 38 food items and infant feeding patterns were prospectively surveyed. Cow’s milk formula (CMF) supplemented with 15.9% linolenic acid, 1.6% α-linolenic acid, 0.40% DHA, and 0.27% arachidonic acid was used. Significant positive associations with infants’ serum DHA levels were found for “Blue-back fish” (rho = 0.24; Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months after birth [To promote such favorable effects, it is recommended that lactating mothers consume seafood, which is rich in DHA [Japanese dietary habits are characterized by the consumption of considerable amounts of seafood. In fact, Japanese people consume more fish, with an average intake of 31.2–52.5 g/day, than Caucasian Americans, who consume 8.9 g/day [