The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) in formula feeds on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in premature infants. LCP's and glutathione were determined in erythrocytes, malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma as well as alpha-and gammatocopherol in plasma, erythrocytes, plateles, monocytes, polymorphnuclear leucocytes and buccal mucosal cells.

Subjects: 36 healthy premature infants with gestational ages between 28 and 32 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1430±280 grams were enrolled in this study.

Interventions: During the first six postnatal weeks, 10 premature infants received n-3 and n-6 enriched LCP formula, 13 infants were fed standard preterm formula and 14 infants were fed breast milk. Blood samples (1ml) were drawn and analyzed on days 1, 2, 7, 14, 28 and 42 post partum.

Results: LCP docosahexaenoic acid C22:6n-3 and arachidonic acid C20:4n-6 in erythrocytes declined slightly in the phosphatidy lcholine fraction and stayed stable in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction regardless of LCP supplemention. Glutathione in erythrocyte membranes was not decreased and MDA was not markedly elevated in the LCP group. Alpha- and gamma-tocopherol were elevated in plasma, all analyzed blood cell fractions and buccal mucosal cells from day 7 onward, suggesting a better tocopherol absorption in the LCP formula group.

Conclusions: Healthy preterm infants are able to cope with extra lipid peroxidation caused by n-3 and n-6 LCP supplementation. The lipid formula used in the LCP group ameliorated the resorption of vitamin E markedly compared to the standard formula or breast milk group.