The influence of human milk and various artificial formulae commercially available in Spain on the fatty acid status of infants in the first two months of life
Benito Fernández, J.; Ruiz Sanz, J.I.; Aquino Fariña, L.; Pijoán Zubizarreta, J.I.; Sasieta Altuna, M.; Sanjurjo Crespo, P.
Anales Espanoles de Pediatria 57(2): 163-169
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0302-4342 PMID: 12139873 Document Number: 548842
Objective: To evaluate changes in the fatty acid composition of red blood cell phospholipids in breast-fed infants compared with those in infants fed with different formulas (conventional, omega -6-enriched formula, omega -6- and omega -3-enriched formula and nucleotide-enriched formula). Methods: Thirty-seven healthy term infants were randomly assigned to one of five different feeding groups [Spain]. Weight, length, head circumference, and arm circumference were assessed at 7 and 60 days of age. The fatty acid composition of the infants' red blood cell phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were analysed at these ages. Results: The anthropometric variables studied showed no changes among the different groups. At 60 days old, arachidonic acid concentration (20:4 omega -6) was lower in non- omega -6 enriched formula-fed groups compared with that in the breast-milk fed group (4.03, 3.68 and 5.15 vs 7.20 g/100 g of fatty acids). Docosahexaenoic acid concentration (22:6 omega -3) in both PC and PE clearly decreased in the non- omega -3 formula-fed groups compared with that in the breast-milk fed group (PC: 0.72 vs 2.82 g/100 g of fatty acids and PE: 5.15 vs 7.73 g/100 g of fatty acids). Conclusions: This study demonstrates differences in the fatty acid composition of red blood cell phospholipids between breast-milk fed infants and those fed with any of the artificial formulas available on the Spanish market. These data provide evidence of the influence of diet on certain essential fatty acids in the body.