title: Faecal fatty acids and gastrointestinal upset in newborn infants.
abstract: Patterns of long-chain faecal fatty acids were studied by gas-liquid chromatography in 55 newborn infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. Decreased fractions of fatty acid C16:1 and increased fractions of C16:0 and C17:0 were associated with the occurrence of abdominal distension. Decreased fractions of C16:1 and C18:2 were associated with diarrhoea. Flatulence was found in infants who had relatively smaller amounts of fatty acids C17:0D and C15:0 in their faecal samples. The differences in the patterns of faecal fatty acids are due to differences in bacterial flora. The results support the hypothesis that the initial intestinal colonization plays a role in the later gastrointestinal signs of newborn infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ahtonen
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eerola
mesh_terms: D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids