Estimation of Erucic Acid Exposure and Relevant Food Sources in Breastfeeding Mothers During the First 3 Months Postpartum: A Pilot Study in Germany

Background Erucic acid is a long‐chain monounsaturated fatty acid that enters the food chain mainly via rapeseed oil. In 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 7 mg/kg bodyweight per day, based on animal models in which a high intake of erucic acid leads to reversible myocardial lipidosis. Since erucic acid is also found in breast milk, maternal dietary exposure should be kept as low as possible. Objective Due to a lack of data on individual food sources and consumption quantities of erucic acid in breastfeeding women, a pilot study was conducted to assess dietary intake. Methods A validated semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), including specific questions on the main food sources of erucic acid, was administered to 89 breastfeeding women at 1, 4, and 12 weeks postpartum (pp). Erucic acid concentrations were mainly derived from food analyses from Germany. Results Median erucic acid exposure was largely constant throughout the breastfeeding period (1, 4, and 12 weeks pp: 0.79, 0.47, 0.60 mg/kg BW/d, respectively), but interindividual variations were large. The major food sources of erucic acid were pastries with 28% (assuming rapeseed oil as an ingredient), followed by rapeseed oil used in the household (22%), mustard (24%), and salmon (16%). In various scenarios of erucic acid intake, even individuals with high consumption remained far below the TDI (7 mg/BW/d). Maternal predictors of the use of rapeseed oil in the household could not be identified. Conclusion The erucic acid exposure of breastfeeding mothers with the usual diet in Germany is likely far below the EFSA TDI. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Registry: DRKS00023072