EFFECT OF CORN-OIL DIET ON ESSENTIAL FATT Y-ACID PROFILES OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN NORMAL AND MALNOURISHED COWS MILK NURSED INFANTS

The effect of corn oil diet administration on the essential fatty acid s (EFAs) profiles was evaluated in plasma phospholipids from normal an d malnourished cow's milk fed infants nursing infants. A control group of only breast-fed was also selected for this study. The fatty acid c omposition was determined by gas-liquid chromatography and used as bio chemical variable for evaluating EFA status. A fall in the proportion of fatty acids concomitant with an increase in the saturated fatty aci ds, consistent with a pattern of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD ) was observed in the cow's milk fed infants, either normal or malnour ished (Table 2). The corn oil administration was capable of restoring the fatty acid profile to normal values, similar to the values of the control group of breast-fed infants, even in malnourished infants, alt hough during the 15 days test they did not correct their clinical synd rome of malnutrition (Table 3). Calculation of the product-precursor o f the linoleic acid provided evidence for the positive effect of the c orn oil administration.-