Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are essential for normal development. Fetal accretion of LC-PUFA occurs during the last trimester of gestation; therefore, premature infants are born with minimal LC-PUFA reserves. Recent studies indicate that the newborn can synthesize LC-PUFA from essential fatty acid precursors; however, the extent of de novo synthesis remains to be established. Postnatally, human milk provides LC-PUFA to the newborn. Maternal LC-PUFA reserves depend upon diet and can be improved by supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid during pregnancy and lactation. This in turn affects fetal LC-PUFA accretion and postnatal provision through mother's milk. Supplementation of formula-fed preterm or full-term infants with docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid leads to plasma and red blood cell LC-PUFA levels similar to those of breast-fed infants. The higher blood and presumably tissue levels of LC-PUFA following supplementation lead, however, to only temporary functional benefits.
Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. hamoshp@medlib.georgetown.edu
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D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated