Objective: To evaluate a-linolenic acid (ALA) (18:3 n-3) and linolenic acid
(LA) (18:2 n-6) in cholesterol esters (CE) as markers of ALA and LA dietar
y intakes in preterm infants.
Subjects: Forty-five preterm infants: two groups fed different formulas, th
e third fed human milk.
Design: ALA and LA dietary intakes were precisely recorded in each infant t
o accurately determine the cumulative amount of ingested ALA and LA during
two intervals: (i) between the second day after the first significant formu
la intake (DO) and the fifteenth day (D15); and (ii) between DO and the fir
st day of the 37th week of post-conception age (W37). The corresponding amo
unts of ingested ALA and LA were related to ALA and LA levels determined by
capillary column gas-liquid chromatography in plasma cholesterol esters at
D15 and W37, respectively.
Results: ALA in CE was very significantly correlated to D0-D15 and D0-W37 A
LA intakes (0.66; P= 0.0001 and 0.70; P= 0.0001), respectively. LA in CE wa
s weakly correlated to D0-D15 LA intakes (0.03; P = 0.01) and whatever the
group (human milk or enriched formula) the correlation was lost at W37.
Conclusion: In preterm infants, ALA in CE can be considered as representati
ve of ALA dietary intakes, whereas LA in CE appears as a poor marker of LA
intakes.