A novel infant formula milk with added long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from single-cell sources: a study of growth, satisfaction and health

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the growth, feeding and health of babies fed a novel infant formula milk with added long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs) produced from single-cell sources, at concentrations similar to those found in mature breast milk. Design: Randomized double-blind control trial. Subjects: One-hundred and forty healthy, full-term infants of birth weight 2.5 ± 4.5 kg born at the Maternity Department, East Glamorgan General Hospital, Wales, whose mothers had already decided to bottle feed. Interventions: Subjects were randomized to two groups; one (control group) to receive a standard formula milk and the other to receive the trial milk with added LCPs. Milks were supplied in a double-blind fashion and given for the ®rst 12 weeks of life. Anthropometric measurements were made at recruitment, 3 months, 6 months and 1 y. Feeding diaries were completed at 6 weeks and 3 months, and a parental record was kept of any ill health suffered by the subjects during the ®rst year of life. Results: Of 140 infants recruited, 31 did not complete the protocol. Small but statistically signi®cant differences were found only in the subscapular skinfold thickness at 6 weeks and 3 months, that in the trial group being slightly higher, but unlikely to be of any clinical importance. No differences were found in the feeding patterns of the infants in the two groups. Stool patterns were similar, as were the frequencies of illness and allergy. Conclusions: This study supports the view that LCPs from single-cell sources do not have detrimental effects on the growth, feeding and general health of infants.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and infant growth

“…In contrast to studies in preterm infants, no significant reductions in weight or length have been reported among groups of term infants fed formulas supplemented with egg lipid (26)(27)(28)(29), egg phospholipid and/or triglyceride (30)(31)(32)(33), various fish oils (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38), or single-cell sources of DHA and/or AA (33,39,40). One study, however, reported a significantly lower head circumference at 4 mon of age in infants fed a formula enriched with low-EPA fish oil vs. the unsupplemented formula (35).…”

“…One study, however, reported a significantly lower head circumference at 4 mon of age in infants fed a formula enriched with low-EPA fish oil vs. the unsupplemented formula (35). In addition, Morris et al (40) reported that the subscapular skinfold thickness of infants fed a formula enriched with single-cell oils (DHA + AA) was significantly lower than that of controls at both 6 wk and 3 mon of age. In addition, Morris et al (40) reported that the subscapular skinfold thickness of infants fed a formula enriched with single-cell oils (DHA + AA) was significantly lower than that of controls at both 6 wk and 3 mon of age.…”

“…It should be noted, however, that with few exceptions (30)(31)(32)(33)39,40), either small numbers of infants were included and/or the duration of supplementation was short, so it cannot be concluded that term infants might not show effects of n-3 LC-PUFA on growth like those that have occurred in some studies of preterm infants. A relationship between n-3 PUFA intake and growth in formula-fed infants may exist in term infants, as indicated by the study of Jensen et al (22).…”

Maternal Fish Oil Supplementation in Lactation and Growth during the First 2.5 Years of Life

“…Few studies have examined effects on body composition. One study has reported that formula with LCPUFA resulted in a significant decrease in subscapular skinfold thickness in term infants at the age of 1.5 and 3 mo, but this was not evident at 6 and 12 mo and was not accompanied by lower triceps skinfold thickness (24).…”

La importancia de los ácidos grasos en la leche materna y en las fórmulas lácteas

“…Durante los siete primeros 1910 pensaba que la leche de vaca era una opción de la leche humana, y que el pecho materno no era esencial para el lactante (Mepham, 1993;Sánchez et al, 2008). Desde entonces, se han visto muchos cambios en la alimentación del lactante, desde la mejora extraordinaria de las leches industrializadas y fórmulas modificadas, pasando por las grandes controversias sobre su uso en población con condiciones higiénicas deplorables, hasta el resurgimiento a partir de la década de los setenta de la alimentación con leche materna, que en la actualidad se considera insuperable por la gran cantidad de propiedades nutritivas, inmunológicas y psicoafectivas que hasta la fecha no han logrado las fórmulas lác-teas, ya que ha sido un verdadero reto para los productores de fórmulas infantiles diseñar y fabricar una fórmula que se acerque a los estándares de referencia de la alimentación infantil (Morris et al, 2000;Carver, 2003;Gil et al, 2006;Sánchez et al, 2008;Prosser et al, 2010;Martinez y Ballew, 2011).…”