title: Factors affecting long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of plasma choline phosphoglycerides in preterm infants.
abstract: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) composition of choline phosphoglycerides was measured in the plasma of 22 preterm infants at birth and at expected date of delivery (EDD). In a subgroup of 10 infants, data were also collected at regular intervals between birth and EDD. Levels at birth showed a positive correlation between arachidonic acid (AA) and birth weight, p less than 0.01, and between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and gestational age, p less than 0.01. Percentage compositions of both AA and DHA fell rapidly between preterm birth and expected date of delivery, at a time when they would remain high in utero. For AA, the mean value fell from 16.52 to 7.18%, and for DHA from 4.49 to 2.63%. Levels of DHA fell less in babies fed breast milk than in those fed formula milk, p less than 0.05, and levels of AA fell less in those requiring a large number of blood transfusions, p less than 0.05. The level of DHA fell more in those infants with intrauterine growth retardation, p less than 0.05. Although these nutrients share common metabolic pathways for their synthesis, they appear to be affected by different factors in both the fetus and the preterm infant. Low levels at this time may adversely affect brain and retinal development.
authors.affiliation: Joint Academic Department of Child Health, Medical College of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Leaf
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Leighfield
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Costeloe
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001724:Birth Weight; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000378:metabolism; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk; D008895:Milk, Human; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid