Linoleic and arachidonic acid in perinatal asphyxia and prematurity.
OBJECTIVE
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are important for fetal and infant growth and development. The effects of prematurity and perinatal asphyxia on the levels of linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in plasma and red blood cell (RBC) membranes were investigated.


METHODS
Fifty-five neonates were studied: 18 full term neonates with perinatal asphyxia (group A), nine preterm neonates (group B), and 28 healthy term neonates (group C). Non-esterified and total levels of LA and AA in plasma and RBC membranes were estimated using gas chromatography within the first day of life. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactivity method.


RESULTS
Compared to group C, statistically significant lower levels of plasma free and total AA and free LA were observed in group A, whereas statistically significant higher levels of RBC total LA and AA were observed in RBC membranes of group B. A negative correlation between MDA and LC-PUFA levels was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Perinatal asphyxia is associated with a reduction in LC-PUFA levels, most likely as a result of increased oxidative stress. Premature infants soon after birth have higher LC-PUFA levels than term neonates, probably reflecting the overall metabolic activity and/or intrauterine transport of LC-PUFA.
Labadaridis
Ioannis
I
NICU General Hospital, Nikea-Piraeus, Greece.
Moraitou
Marina
M
Theodoraki
Martha
M
Dimitriou
Evangelia
E
Sarafidou
Jasmin
J
Michelakakis
Helen
H
D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism
D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D019787:Linoleic Acid