Ratios of linoleic acid to alpha-linolenic acid in formulas for term infants.
Commercial infant formulas with a ratio of linoleic acid (LA) to alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) of 10:1 or higher are nutritionally inadequate; the tissue levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are lower and the visual function indices are reduced in infants who are fed these formulas. All the evidence points to using LA:ALA ratios of less than 8:1, but there has been only one study in infants that used formulas with reduced LA:ALA ratios, and only biochemical indices were monitored. There is a need for both short-term studies to establish the ratios of LA to ALA that will make possible the accumulation of DHA to levels close to those in breast-fed infants and long-term trials to determine the effects of such fat blends on growth and development.
Department of Peadiatrics and Child Health, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park (Adelaide), Australia.
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Gibson
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Makrides
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Neumann
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Simmer
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Mantzioris
M J
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James
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009753:Nutritive Value; D013997:Time Factors; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
D008041:Linoleic Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid