Essential fatty acid deficiency in premature infants.
To better characterize essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in neonates, we assessed 63 premature infants by serial determinations of plasma fatty acids for the level of linoleic acid, the presence of an abnormal trienoic acid (5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid [20:3 omega 9]), and the ratio of this compound to arachidonic acid, ie, the triene-tetraene ratio. The data indicated that at age 7 d, 67% of these infants had low plasma linoleic acid levels, 62% showed readily detectable 20:3 omega 9, and 44% had a high triene-tetraene ratio. Infants fed by age 2 d had a normal mean linoleate level at 7 d and none showed detectable 20:3 omega 9 by 10 d. In contrast, infants who were not fed until 7 d showed a very high incidence of abnormal fatty acid status. By maintaining a daily record of linoleate intake, we calculated from regression models that the average amount required to achieve normal fatty acid nutrition was 1.19 g.kg-1.d-1.
Farrell
P M
PM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792.
Gutcher
G R
GR
Palta
M
M
DeMets
D
D
D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000097:blood; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000097:blood; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; C010944:mead acid