Dietary intake and plasma concentrations of PUFA and LC-PUFA in breastfed and formula fed infants under real-life conditions.
BACKGROUND
The breastfed infant is usually used as standard for formula feeding, also regarding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Here, plasma fatty acid concentrations in formula fed infants and the effects of LC-PUFA supplementation were investigated under real-life conditions.


METHODS
Term healthy infants being fully milk fed until the age of 4 months were categorized as breast milk "BM" (n = 73) if consuming >95% of energy from breast milk or formula (F) if consuming >95% of energy from formula subdivided into formula without (F-) (n = 15) and with LC-PUFA supplementation (F+) (n = 15). Formula as marketed was chosen by the parents. Dietary fatty acids (FA) intake was calculated from continuous dietary records from 2 months of age onwards. Total plasma FA were analyzed at the age of 4 months with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as primary outcome.


RESULTS
Dietary ratios of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; linoleic acid/alpha-linolenic acid) were smaller in both F groups than in the BM group. Plasma DHA as % of total FA was similar in BM and F(+) but higher in BM in absolute amounts (mg/L). Plasma DHA as % of total FA in F(-) was higher than what might be supposed on the basis of dietary intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Infants consuming present-day LC-PUFA-supplemented formula achieved plasma LC-PUFA concentrations similar to breastfed infants. In infants consuming non-LC-PUFA-supplemented formula, the favorable PUFA pattern of the formula may have supported n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthesis.
Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Dortmund, Germany.
Jana
J
Schwartz
Claudia
C
Drossard
Katharina
K
Dube
Frank
F
Kannenberg
Clemens
C
Kunz
Hermann
H
Kalhoff
Mathilde
M
Kersting
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019787:Linoleic Acid