Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3) accounts for about 25% of brain gray matter phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) fatty acid, and is an important constituent of all cell membranes. Term human infants fed human milk (HM) compared to vegetable oil-containing formulas (VOF) have twice as much 22:6n3 in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids (PL) suggesting that dietary 22:6n3 is a major source of this fatty acid for infants. Most fetal accumulation of 22:6n3 occurs in the last trimester which could make the preterm infant more vulnerable to diets without 22:6n3. Infants less than 32 wks gestation were fed either HM (n=12) or one of several VOF (n=13). Diets were fed for between 6 and 12 wks. HM-fed compared to VOF-fed infants had significantly more 22:6n3 in PE as well as Pcholine and Pserine of the red cell membrane (p<.005). At delivery, membrane PE 22:6n3 was 7.6% of total fatty acids. This value declined to 4.8% (p<.001) in preliminary samples taken before full enteral feeding. With HM, PE 22:6n3 again increased to 6.2% (p<.01), and with VOF the value declined to 4.1% (n.s.). Three infants fed VOF for 3 mos. had a mean PE 22:6n3 of 2.7%. These findings suggest [1] that 22:6n3 is actively transmitted from the maternal/placental to the fetal unit, [2] that newborn infants have a limited capacity to synthesize 22:6n3 from linolenic acid, and [3] that dietary 22:6n3 makes a significant contribution to the membrane phospholipid 22:6n3 in preterm infants.
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Carlson, S., Ferguson, M. & Rhodes, P. 623 EFFECT OF HUMAN MILK AND VEGETABLE OIL-CONTAINING FORMULAS ON DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID OF PRETERM RED CELL MEMBRANE PHOSPHOLIPIDS. Pediatr Res 19, 214 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00653
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00653