Erythrocyte and plasma cholesterol ester long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of low-birth-weight babies fed preterm formula with and without ribonucleotides: comparison with human milk

Abstract

We investigated whether a regular formula for premature infants (pre) supplemented with ribonucleotides (pre+RN) raises erythrocyte and plasma cholesterol ester (CE) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) of low-birth-weight babies (< or = 2.50 kg) compared with their breast-fed counterparts. From days 11 to 42, 31 babies received the pre formula and 37 received pre+RN. Eleven breast-fed babies served as a reference group. Erythrocytes and CE fatty acids were determined on days 11, 21, and 42. There were no differences in the courses of erythrocytes and CE fatty acids between pre formula-fed and pre+RN-fed babies. On day 42, formula-fed babies had lower erythrocytes and CE n-3 and n-6 LCPUFAs compared with breast-fed babies. Subdivision into gestational age- and body weight-matched subgroups gave similar results. RN supplementation does not augment the erythrocyte and CE LCPUFA status of formula-fed babies.

Dietary nucleotides do not alter erythrocyte long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in formula‐fed term infants

“…Our trial showed that supplementation of infant formula with 33.5 mg/L (5 mg/100 kcal) free NT did not influence the FA status of term infants at 7 mon of age. Our results support the findings of Hernell and Lön-nerdal (14), Woltil et al (13), and Axelsson et al (12) but contrast with the frequently cited studies from Spain suggesting that dietary NT may play a role in enhancing enzymes involved in the conversion of 18-carbon PUFA precursors to their longer-chain derivatives (10,11,22). The Spanish studies report higher levels of LCPUFA in erythrocyte phospholipids, plasma lipids, and plasma phospholipids in the NT-supplemented group of infants compared with unsupplemented infants in the first months of life.…”

“…An area of controversy in NT nutrition relates to their ability to modulate the accumulation of long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA), such as DHA (22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) (10,11). Whereas reports from one laboratory suggest beneficial effects, subsequent studies involving preterm (12) or low-birth-weight infants (13) have been unable to confirm the LCPUFA-enhancing effects of supplemental NT compared with unsupplemented formula. In a more recent study designed primarily to examine the effect of added NT on iron status of term infants, there was also no significant difference between the NT-supplemented group and other formula groups in erythrocyte FA composition at both time points following commencement of feeding (4 and 6 mon of age) (14).…”

The influence of dietary nucleotides on erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and plasma lipids in preterm infants

“…Recently Woltil et a1 (29) showed no effect on erythrocyte and plasma cholesterol ester long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in low birthweight babies fed formula supplemented with nucleotides compared to those fed non-supplemented formula. These results are also in agreement with ours, regarding the lack of differences between the formula groups and the significantly lower concentrations of DHA and n-3 LC-PUFAs in the infants fed nonsupplemented formula compared to the breastfed infants.…”

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status and early growth of low birth weight infants

“…At birth, AA status in preterms correlates most strongly with birth weight [24,25], whereas DHA status correlates with length of gestation [25]. Preterms who receive formulas without LCP have lower AA and DHA contents in red blood cells (RBC) [8,15,22,29,31] and plasma lipid fractions [15,22,31], compared with breastfed infants. In addition, DHA contents in the brain are lower in infants who receive formulas without LCP than in infants who receive human milk [7,17].…”