The influence of moderate and high dietary long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on baboon neonate tissue fatty acids.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are now common ingredients in commercial infant formulas, however, the optimal levels have not been established. Our previous data showed that the current amount of DHA in U.S. term formulas, 0.3%w/w, is insufficient to normalize cerebral cortex DHA to levels in breastfed baboon neonate controls (Diau et al.: BMC Medicine 3: 11, 2005). Here, we report on the influence of higher formula DHA levels on 12-wk-old full-term baboon CNS and visceral organs. Fourteen nursery-reared baboons were randomized to one of three diets: control (C, no DHA-ARA); moderate LCPUFA (L, 0.33%DHA-0.67%ARA); high LCPUFA (L3, 1.00%DHA-0.67%ARA). DHA increased significantly in liver, heart, and plasma (all C < L < L3), RBC (C < L, L3), and CNS regions: precentral gyrus (C < L < L3), frontal cortex, inferior and superior colliculi, globus pallidus, and caudate (all C < L, L3). These data extend previous observations indicating that 1) tissue DHA is more sensitive to diet than ARA; 2) cerebral cortex DHA increases with higher levels of DHA than in present commercial formulas; and 3) basal ganglia and limbic system DHA saturate with levels of DHA currently available in formulas. These results imply that higher levels of DHA are necessary to normalize cortex DHA to those found in breastfed animals.
Hsieh
Andrea T
AT
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Anthony
Joshua C
JC
Diersen-Schade
Deborah A
DA
Rumsey
Steven C
SC
Lawrence
Peter
P
Li
Cun
C
Nathanielsz
Peter W
PW
Brenna
J Thomas
JT
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010215:Papio; D011897:Random Allocation; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid