Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue at term indicates deficiency of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid and excessive linoleic acid supply in preterm infants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arachidonic (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are constitutive to membrane phospholipids, and essential for brain and overall development. ARA/DHA pools in term infants (TI) are built during the third trimester, stored as adipose tissue triglycerides and predominantly distributed via plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC). In preterm infants (PTI), placental ARA/DHA supply is replaced by linoleic-acid (LA)-enriched nutrition. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PTI nutrition, compared to placental supply, on fatty acid composition in adipose tissue and blood.

Methods

Prospective observational study (4/2017-3/2019) in 12 PTI and 3 PTI with enterostomy (PTI/E) (gestational age (GA)?ResultsPTI had less ARA in adipose tissue TG (0.77[0.67-0.87]% vs. 1.04[0.95-1.14]%, p?=?0.0003) and plasma PC (20.7[18.7-22.8]% vs. 28.3[22.7-33.5]%, p?=?0.011) than TI. PTI also had less DHA in adipose tissue TG (0.6[0.4-0.8]% vs. 1.1[0.8-1.4]%, p?=?0.006) and plasma PC (6.4[5.6-7.1]% vs. 8.4[7.8-13.1]%, p?=?0.002). LA was increased in PTI's adipose tissue TG (10.0[8.8-12.3]% vs. 3.0[2.5-3.6]%, p?ConclusionIn PTI, LA is increased and ARA/DHA decreased in adipose tissue, plasma and erythrocyte lipids as proxies for other tissues, likely caused by PTI nutrition. This may contribute to impaired PTI development.

SUBMITTER: Bockmann KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7900037 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature