PLASMA AND RED-BLOOD-CELL FATTY-ACID OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTSFED EXCLUSIVELY WITH EXPRESSED PRETERM HUMAN-MILK

The fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids, triglycerides, ste rol esters, and red blood cell phospholipids were determined at birth and again on d 7, 14, and 28 of life in 22 very low birth weight infan ts (birth weight 1180 +/- 290 g, gestational age 29.8 +/- 2.4 wk) fed exclusively with preterm human milk starting from the first hours post partum. Milk intake was recorded daily, and intakes of fat and individ ual fatty acids were measured weekly. The intakes of linoleic acid and linolenic acid rose significantly during the study period, so did the ir incorporation into plasma and red blood eel lipids. The intakes of arachidonic acid (29.2 +/- 2.4 versus 30.4 +/- 2.1 mg . kg(-1). day(-1 )) and docosahexaenoic acid (18.8 +/- 1.7 versus 17.0 +/- 1.2 mg . kg( -1). day(-1)) on d 14 and 28, respectively, were not different; howeve r, their plasma levels declined significantly. The percentages of arac hidonic acid declined in all plasma and red blood cell lipids, whereas the fall of docosahexaenoic acid was more notable in triglycerides an d sterol esters, intermediate in plasma phospholipids, and less pronou nced in red blood cell phospholipids. We conclude that very low birth weight infants fed exclusively with preterm milk, which unlike most pr eterm formulas contains long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, exhibi t declining levels of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from b irth up to 28 d of life.