title: Short-Term Stability of Whole Blood Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Content on Filter Paper During Storage at -28 °C.
abstract: Finger or heel-pricked blood sampling for fatty acid analysis is suitable especially in newborn infants where blood sampling is difficult and phlebotomy for research can be unethical. The aim of this study was to evaluate dried blood long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) stability during storage at -28 °C. We collected 12 blood cord samples that were analyzed immediately after blood drawing, with and without drying the blood on filter paper. Dried samples were then analyzed 7 days and 1, 3, and 6 months after collection. Butylated hydroxytoluene was added to all samples. Fatty acid composition and (13)C enrichment were measured by gas chromatography and by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry, respectively. The fatty acid composition, expressed in mol%, of the major LC-PUFA at day 7 was not statistically different from time 0, however lower values were found by the first month of storage. The (13)C enrichment of 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 did not differ during the whole study period. LC-PUFA analysis from dried umbilical cord blood in neonates should be performed within a week, major losses of LC-PUFA occur afterwards. However, fatty acids obtained from dried blood maintain their (13)C enrichment value for up to 6 months and thus these samples are suitable for natural abundance isotopic studies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Polytechnic University of Marche and Salesi's Children Hospital, Via Corridoni 11, 62123, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pupillo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Research Institute "Città della Speranza", Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonato
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, 33100, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, APHP Necker Hospital, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapillonne
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Polytechnic University of Marche and Salesi's Children Hospital, Via Corridoni 11, 62123, Ancona, Italy. v.carnielli@univpm.it.
authors.forename: Virgilio P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Carnielli
mesh_terms: D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000737:chemistry; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D017218:Cordocentesis / Q000379:methods*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: ARA; DHA; Dried blood spots; Gas chromatography; Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; Natural abundance