DHA intake interacts with and genetic variants to influence polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk.

Endogenous synthesis of PUFAs is mediated by genes controlling fatty acid elongases 2 and 5 ( and ) and by exogenous DHA intake. Associations between elongases and PUFA levels probably involve genetic variants of and changes in DHA intake, but data about their combined effect on PUFA levels are sparse. We hypothesized that each factor would directly affect PUFAs and that interactions between haplotypes and DHA intake would influence PUFAs.