Abstract
The aim of this investigations was to study the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of the low birthweight infant.
We have quantified the fatty acids in the EThanolamine and Choiinephosphogly-cerides in the umbilical arterial wall of 14 babies over the range of birth weights 820-4310 C. and gestational age 32-39 w.
There was a statistically significant negative correlation with the Mead Acid (20:3 n-9), the triene/tetraene ratio and the pentaene/tetraene ratio and birthweight, (p<0.01), and with occipito frontal circumference, (p<0.05). The Mead acid was present in amounts varying between 1.74 and 6.4% of total fatty acids. This substance is not usualy found in human tissues in concentrations exceeding 0.1%, its excess production is indicative of EFA deficiency. The ratios described are accepted as indicators of deficiency involving both n-6 and n-2 fatty acids.
These preliminary results indicate tht these babies all show evidence of EFA deficiency by adult standards, but that the deficiency is greatest in the lowest birthweight babies. This fetal EFA deficiency may be related to maternal dietary insufficiency or to defective placental function.
Brain growth and the requirement for long chain EFA derivatives are maximal during the last trimester and it is possible that the EFA deficiency of the lowest birthweight babies is related to the adverse neurologica outcome which is seen in that group. These findings have implications for both maternal and neonatal and nutritional requirements.
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Costeloe, K., Lennon, E., Crawford, M. et al. ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS STATUS IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER. Pediatr Res 26, 272 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198909000-00053
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198909000-00053