Previously we reported significantly higher values of γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DHGLA,, and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) in plasma lipid classes in obese children than in nonobese controls. In the present study, fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids (PL) and sterol esters (STE) was determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography in obese children with and without metabolic cardiovascular syndrome [MCS: defined as simultaneous presence of (i) dyslipidemia, (ii) hyperinsulinemia, (iii) hypertension, and (iv) impaired glucose tolerance] and in nonobese controls. Fatty acid composition of PL and STE lipids did not differ between obese children without MCS and controls. Obese children with MCS exhibited significantly lower linoleic acid (LA, values in PL (17.43 [2.36], % wt/wt, median [range from the first to the third quartile]) than obese children without MCS (19.14 [3.49]) and controls (20.28 [3.80]). In contrast, PL GLA values were significantly higher in obese children with (0.13 [0.08]) than in those without MCS (0.08 [0.04]), whereas STE GLA values were higher in obese children with MCS (1.04 [0.72]) than in controls (0.62 [0.48]). DHGLA values in PL were significantly higher in obese children with MCS (4.06 [0.74]) than in controls (2.69 [1.60]). The GLA/LA ratio was significantly higher, whereas the AA/DHGLA ratio was significantly lower in obese children with MCS than in obese children without MCS and in controls. In this study, LA metabolism was affected only in obese children with but not in those without MCS. In obese children with MCS, ∆6-desaturase activity appeared to be stimulated, whereas ∆5-desaturase activity appeared to be inhibited. Disturbances in LA metabolism may represent an additional health hazard within the multifaceted clinical picture of MCS.Prevalence of childhood obesity is high and still increasing in many affluent countries. In children and adolescents investigated from 1988 to 1991 in the United States, the prevalence of overweight based on body mass index was 11% according to the 95th and 22% according to the 85th percentile cutoff points (1). In Hungary, the prevalence of childhood obesity defined as body mass index exceeding the 90th percentile is around 13% (2). The long-term morbidity and mortality associated with childhood obesity are closely connected to the cardiovascular and metabolic status detectable in the pediatric age group (3). Therefore, identification of cardiovascular risk factors in obese children is of practical importance.Previously we found significantly higher percentage contributions of the n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DHGLA, 20:3n-6), and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) to the fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes in obese children than in nonobese controls (4). Since LCPUFA are prone to lipid peroxidation, their enhanced availability in circulating lipids may represent a further risk factor of atherogenesis in ob...

Background: Previous studies showed significant inverse correlations between values of trans isomeric and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipids of preterm infants and healthy children aged 1-15 y. Objective: We sought to evaluate the same correlations in fullterm infants at birth. Design: We studied healthy full-term infants (n = 42) born after normal pregnancies and deliveries. All infants had a family history of atopy (both parents or one of the parents and a sibling had atopic symptoms). The fatty acid composition of venous cord blood lipids was determined by high-resolution capillary gasliquid chromatography. Results: The mean (± SEM) sum of trans fatty acids was 0.49 ± 0.02% by wt in phospholipids, 2.47 ± 0.20% by wt in cholesterol esters, 1.73 ± 0.09% by wt in triacylglycerols, and 1.59 ± 0.07% by wt in nonesterified fatty acids. Linear correlation analysis showed significant inverse correlations between the sum of trans fatty acids and both arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in phospholipids (r = -0.56, P < 0.001, and r = -0.48, P = 0.01, respectively), cholesterol esters (r = -0.52, P < 0.001, and r = -0.39, P = 0.018, respectively), and nonesterified fatty acids (r = -0.41, P = 0.007, and r = -0.41, P = 0.006, respectively). Conclusion: Because trans fatty acids in the fetal circulation must originate from the maternal diet, our results indicate that maternal exposure to trans fatty acids may represent a previously neglected variable that inversely influences long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status in full-term infants at birth.Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:364-8.

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Background: Fatty acid composition of human milk (HM) is known to change considerably during lactation. However, we were unable to find data on changes of fatty acid composition of HM during the very early phase of lactation, i.e. in the first week of life. Subjects and Methods: HM samples were obtained from 18 healthy lactating women every day during the first week and thereafter on the 14th and 28th days of lactation. Fatty acid composition of colostrum and mature HM samples was determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Results: Values of the n-6 essential fatty acid, linoleic acid, in HM did not change significantly during the first month of lactation, whereas values of the n-3 essential fatty acid, α-linolenic acid, showed significant increases during the first 2 weeks of lactation (1st day: 0.49 [0.12], % weight/weight, median [ranges from the 1st to the 3rd quartile], 14th day: 0.69 [0.31], p < 0.05). In contrast, values of the n-6 long-chain metabolites, eicosadienoic-, dihomo-γ-linolenic- and arachidonic acid, as well as the values of the n-3 long-chain metabolites, eicosatrienoic-, and eicosapentaenoic acid exhibited significant decreases during the entire period investigated. The principal n-3 long-chain metabolite, docosahexaenoic acid, showed a significant increase between the 3rd and 14th days, but a significant decrease between the 14th and 28th days (3rd day: 0.15 [0.13], 14th day: 0.28 [0.11], p < 0.05, 28th day: 0.19 [0.12], p < 0.01). There were statistically significant positive correlations between arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid values on the 1st (r = 0.67, p < 0.01), 5th (r = 0.56, p < 0.05) and the 6th (r = 0.53, p < 0.05) days of lactation. Conclusion: Fatty acid composition of HM changes significantly even during the first week of lactation. The lack of positive correlation between essential fatty acids and their long-chain metabolites suggests that it is not only the availability of essential fatty acids that influences the fatty acid composition of human colostrum.

Healthy, full-term infants fed formula without preformed dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are unable to match the arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid status of breast-fed infants even during the second half of the first year of life.

The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the variability of the fatty acid composition of venous cord blood phospholipids in different populations. In an attempt to review published evidence systematically, we found 19 data sets describing fatty acid composition of venous cord blood phospholipids in 11 European and 2 American countries. The amount of saturated-, monounsaturated- and parent essential polyunsaturated fatty acids exhibited relatively moderate variability among the data sets reviewed. Values of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid showed two-fold variability among the data sets. The highest values of docosahexaenoic acid were observed in countries with apparently higher consumption of dietary fat from sea fish. Considering the differences in blood sampling, laboratory methods and data presentation, we conclude that fatty acid composition of venous cord blood phospholipids in healthy, full-term infants shows relatively modest variability; hence, it is suitable for the estimation of in utero fatty acid supply.

Significantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in plasma lipids have previously been reported in 2 to 8‐wk‐old as well as in 6 to 12‐mo‐old full‐term infants fed exclusively human milk than in infants exclusively receiving formula without AA and DHA. However, in real life many infants receive both human milk and breast milk substitute formula. Healthy, full‐term infants aged 2 to 12 mo and fed exclusively human milk (n= 29, age: 29.2 [14.6] wk, mean [SD], no human milk substitute formula), exclusively formula without AA and DHA (n= 30, age: 26.6 [15.2] wk, no human milk after the age of 1 mo) or combined diet (n= 38, age: 30.3 [12.8] wk, human milk for >1 mo and breast milk substitute formula) were investigated in this cross‐sectional study. Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane phosphatidylethano‐lamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyeline lipids was determined by high‐resolution capillary gas‐liquid chromatography. The most pronounced diet‐related differences were seen in PE lipids. Values of PE α‐linolenic acid (0.07 [0.05] vs 0.26 [0.18] vs 0.19 [0.19], median [range from the 1st to the 3rd quartile], exclusively breastfed vs. exclusively formula fed vs combined diet), eicosapentaenoic acid (0.19 [0.13] vs 0.35 [0.23] vs 0.27 [0.31]) and dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid (1.34 [0.42] vs 1.86 [0.62] vs 1.58 [0.73]) were significantly lower in exclusively breastfed infants than in those fed formula, exclusively or partially. In contrast, PE AA (26.48 [2.50] vs 24.34 [4.74] vs 24.94 [3.64]) and DHA (4.93 [2.91] vs 3.51 [2.14] vs 3.58 [2.27]) values were significantly higher in exclusively breastfed infants than in the other two groups. Conclusion: In full‐term infants aged 2 to 12 mo, erythrocyte membrane AA and DHA values are significantly higher with exclusive breastfeeding than with partial breastfeeding or exclusive feeding of formula without AA and DHA.

In full-term infants aged 2 to 12 mo, erythrocyte membrane AA and DHA values are significantly higher with exclusive breastfeeding than with partial breastfeeding or exclusive feeding of formula without AA and DHA.