Effect of different types of feeding on fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane lipids in full‐term infants

Abstract

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.

Geographic variations and determinants of EPA plus DHA and EPA alone in pregnant and lactating women from China

“…Our study also showed that EPA plus DHA and EPA concentrations were associated with maternal age and education, which was consistent with previous studies (46,47) . A recent review indicated that older maternal age and higher educational level were related to higher n-3 long-chain PUFA concentrations (46) .…”

“…Our study also found that maternal EPA concentration in erythrocytes appeared lower in lactating women having breastfeeding exclusively v. partially, possibly due to more secretion of EPA into breast milk. Although no study has examined the association of breastfeeding mode with maternal n-3 long-chain PUFA status, a cross-sectional study in Hungary showed that erythrocyte EPA concentration was lower in infants breastfed exclusively v. partially (47) .…”