title: Palmitic Acid in Early Human Development.
abstract: Palmitic acid (16:0) is a saturated fatty acid present in the diet and synthesized endogenously. Although often considered to have adverse effects on chronic disease in adults, 16:0 is an essential component of membrane, secretory, and transport lipids, with crucial roles in protein palmitoylation and signal molecules. At birth, the term infant is 13-15% body fat, with 45-50% 16:0, much of which is derived from endogenous synthesis in the fetus. After birth, the infant accumulates adipose tissue at high rates, reaching 25% body weight as fat by 4-5 months age. Over this time, human milk provides 10% dietary energy as 16:0, but in unusual triglycerides with 16:0 on the glycerol center carbon. This paper reviews the synthesis and oxidation of 16:0 and possible reasons why the infant is endowed with large amounts of fat and 16:0. The marked deviations in tissues with displacement of 16:0 that can occur in infants fed vegetable oil formulas is introduced. Assuming fetal fatty acid synthesis and the unusual delivery of 16:0 in human milk evolved to afford survival advantage to the neonate, it is timely to question if 16:0 is an essential component of tissue lipids whereby both deficiency and excess are detrimental.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , Department of Paediatrics , Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Innis
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000254:growth & development; D001823:Body Composition; D002657:Child Development; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D014280:Triglycerides
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D019308:Palmitic Acid
keywords: Palmitic acid; adipose tissue; human milk; infant development; placental fatty acid transfer; triglyceride structure