PLASMA AND TISSUE-LIPIDS OF PIGLETS FED FORMULA CONTAINING SATURATED FATTY-ACIDS FROM MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES WITH OR WITHOUT FISH-OIL

Addition of fish oil (FO) with carbon chain 20 and 22 (long-chain poly unsaturated fatty acids; LCPs) n-3 fatty acids to formula has been con sidered as a method to provide 22:6n-3 to preterm infants. These studi es determined the effects of including 0.73% n-3 LCPs from FO in formu la containing saturated fatty acids as medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil on plasma and organ triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL), and cho lesterol ester (CE) contents and compositions in piglets. Reference pi glets were fed their own mother's milk. Piglets fed the formula with F O had significantly lower liver and kidney, but not plasma, TG concent rations; lower liver PL 20:4n-6; and higher plasma, liver, and kidney TG, FL, and CE n-3 LCPs than piglets fed the formula without FO. The i ncrease in liver and kidney lipid n-3 LCPs and the decrease in kidney lipid content shows that inclusion of FO in formula with a high conten t of MCTs and 18:2n-6 does not promote tissue lipid metabolism similar to natural milk feeding. Piglets fed formula with FO had similar brai n 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3 but higher 22:6n-3 than did piglets fed sow milk . Diet-related differences in plasma and red blood cell PL were not re liable predictors of differences in brain LCP.