Modulation of infant formula fat profile alters the low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio and plasma fatty acid distribution relative to those with breast-feeding.
The effect of breast-feeding was compared with that of two fat-modified milk formulas in 45 infants (15 per group) studied by assessing body weight gain for 4 months and plasma lipids, lipoprotein profiles, fatty acid profiles of plasma and red blood cells, and plasma tocopherol status 3 months after birth. A saturated fat formula with coconut oil/soybean oil (COCO/SOY) had a fatty acid content and polyunsaturated/saturated ratio (P/S, 0.55) comparable with that of human milk fat (P/S, 0.39) and had the same fat energy content (50% kcal). The second formula, with corn oil/soybean oil (CORN/SOY), was highly unsaturated (P/S, 4.6), with only 35% kcal from fat. Energy intake and body weight gain were similar for all groups. Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid levels were significantly lower (greater than 20% on average) in infants fed the CORN/SOY formula than in infants fed either the COCO/SOY formula or human milk. Infants fed the CORN/SOY formula also had lower (25% to 35%) plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels and low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratios. Plasma, red blood cell, and cholesteryl ester fatty acids from infants fed COCO/SOY contained less 18:1 and more 18:2; cholesterol esters in plasma from breast-fed infants had the highest 20:4n-6 levels. Plasma tocopherol levels were higher in infants consuming formulas. The presence of cholesterol in human milk appeared to expand the low-density lipoprotein pool and exert an "unfavorable" increase in the low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio. Thus modulation of infant lipoproteins by changing dietary fat and cholesterol is feasible and in keeping with the known response in adults.
Hayes
K C
KC
Foster Biomedical Research Laboratory, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Pronczuk
A
A
Wood
R A
RA
Guy
D G
DG
D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol