Vp. Carnielli et al., PLASMA AND RED-BLOOD-CELL FATTY-ACID OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTSFED EXCLUSIVELY WITH EXPRESSED PRETERM HUMAN-MILK, Pediatric research, 39(4), 1996, pp. 671-679
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.