DIETARY SATURATED, MONOUNSATURATED, N-6 AND N-3 FATTY-ACIDS, AND CHOLESTEROL INFLUENCE PLATELET FATTY-ACIDS IN THE EXCLUSIVELY FORMULA-FED PIGLET

Platelet lipid composition is important to normal platelet morphology and function, and is influenced by dietary fatty acids and cholesterol . The fatty acid composition and cholesterol content of infant formula s differs from those of human milk, but the possible effects on platel et lipids in young infants is not known. This was studied in piglets f ed from birth to 18 d of age with one of eight formulas differing in s aturated fatty acid chain length, or content of 18:1, 20:5n-3 plus 22: 6n-3, or cholesterol. A reference group of piglets fed sow milk was al so studied. Sow milk has a fatty acid composition and cholesterol cont ent similar to that of human milk. Piglets fed formulas high in 18:1 ( 34.9-40.8% wt fatty acids) and low in 16.0 (less-than-or-equal-to 6.5% wt fatty acids) had lower platelet counts and greater platelet size t han piglets fed sow milk (40.4% 18:1, 30.7% 16:0). Piglets fed formula s high in 16:0 (27-29.6%) and 18:1 (40-40.6%), or low in both 16:0 (5. 9-6.1%) and 18:1 (10.8-11.2%), had similar platelet counts and size to piglets fed sow milk. Platelet phospholipid % 20:4n-6 was lower in al l the groups of piglets fed formula than in the group fed sow milk. Ad dition of fish oil with 20:5n-3 plus 22:6n-3 to the formula further de creased platelet phospholipid 20:4n-6. Addition of cholesterol to the formula increased the platelet phospholipid % 20:4n-6 and platelet vol ume.