title: Fatty acid composition of plasma and red blood cell phospholipids in preterm infants from 2 weeks to 6 months postpartum.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to follow the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) status in initially human milk-fed preterm infants from 2 weeks to 6 months postpartum. Twenty-two infants aged 27-33 weeks of gestation at birth who had a birthweight of 710-2525 g were fed human milk for > or = 4 weeks. After discharge from the hospital, they were either human milk-fed or formula-fed according to their mothers' decision: 10 were fully breast-fed for 6 months and 12 were formula-fed after discharge at 1-2 months. The formula fat contained 20% 18:2n-6 and 3% 18:3n-3 but was devoid of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP). Blood samples were taken at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum. Percentage fatty acid compositions in red blood cell (RBC) and plasma total phospholipids were analyzed by capillary gas liquid chromatography. In formula-fed infants, the change from human milk to formula resulted in a significant rise in plasma and RBC 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 and a decrease in plasma 20:4n-6. Interestingly, RBC 20:4n-6 remained constant in both groups, even after 4-5 months of formula feeding. In the formula-fed group, RBC 22:5n-6 showed an increasing trend. The largest changes were seen in 22:6n-3; in the formula-fed group, it decreased in both plasma and RBC, whereas in the human milk-fed group, it showed an increasing trend.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luukkainen
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikkari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids