Clinical Trial 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.
