Three-year tracking of fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids in healthy children.
OBJECTIVE
The fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids reflects the dietary fatty acid intake as well as endogenous turnover. We aimed at investigating the potential tracking of plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition in children that participated in a prospective cohort study.


METHODS
26 healthy children participated in a longitudinal study on health risks and had been enrolled after birth. All children were born at term with birth weights appropriate for gestational age. Follow-up took place at ages 24, 36 and 60 months. At each time point a 24-hour dietary recall was obtained, anthropometric parameters were measured and a blood sample for phospholipid fatty acid analysis was taken.


RESULTS
Dietary intake of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids at the three time points were not correlated. We found lower values for plasma MUFA and the MUFA/SFA ratio at 60 months compared to 24 months. In contrast, total PUFA, total n-6 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) were higher at 60 months. Significant averaged correlation coefficients (average of Pearson's R for 24 versus 36 months and 36 versus 60 months) were found for n-6 LC-PUFA (r = 0.67), n-6/n-3 LC-PUFA ratio (r = 0.59) and arachidonic acid/linoleic acid ratio (r = 0.64). Partial tracking was found for the docosahexaenoic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio (r = 0.33). Body mass index and sum of skinfolds Z-scores were similar in the three evaluations.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant tracking of n-6 LC-PUFA, n-6 LC-PUFA/n-3 LC-PUFA ratio, arachidonic acid/linoleic acid ratio and docosahexaenoic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio may reflect an influence of individual endogenous fatty acid metabolism on plasma concentrations of some, but not all, fatty acids.
Guerra
António
A
Department of Paediatrics, H.S. João Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Demmelmair
Hans
H
Toschke
André Michael
AM
Koletzko
Berthold
B
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010743:Phospholipids