Age- and Dietary-Related Distributions of Hepatic Arachidonic and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Early Infancy

Farquharson, James; Jamieson, E.Cherry; Logan, R. W.; Patrick, W.; Howatson, Allan G.; Cockburn, F.

doi:10.1203/00006450-199509000-00015

Cited by 39 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In addition, a number of studies in experimental animals have shown that deficiency of n-3 leads to impairment of brain and visual functions (Neuringer, 2000). Moreover, the level of DHA in the brain cortex and liver of preterm infants who died suddenly and that had been fed with artificial formulas was lower than of those fed with human milk (Farquharson et al, 1995). Nonetheless, recent in vivo studies using LA and LNA labelled with stable isotopes in at-term newborns, preterm infants and small for date infants have demonstrated that all infants are able to synthesise LC-PUFA (Demmelmair et al, 1995;Uauy et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant nutrition

2003

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Objective: To review briefly the influence of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) on tissue composition and functionality in early infancy. Moreover, the influences of LC-PUFA sources on plasma composition as well as the effects of these fatty acids on intestinal repair after malnutrition are discussed. Results: Human milk not only supplies essential fatty acids but also contains up to 2% of the total fatty acids as LC-PUFA, of which arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are considered the most important. Plasma and erythrocyte levels of both AA and DHA are decreased in infants fed artificial standard milk formulae. However, the supplementation of formulae with these fatty acids in amounts close to that of human milk leads to tissue LC-PUFA patterns similar to those of breast-fed infants. However, the bioavailability of LC-PUFA depends on the typical LC-PUFA source; egg phospholipids increases both AA and DHA in plasma phospholipids and HDL more than a mixture of tuna and fungal triglycerides. Conclusions: Dietary LC-PUFA affects positively the growth and development of the infant and ameliorates the visual and cognitive functions, particularly in preterm infants. Likewise, LC-PUFA improves intestinal repair in severe protein-energy malnutrition; therefore, its qualitative and quantitative dietary supply should be considered.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant nutrition

2003

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“…Babies fed on formula milk devoid of AA and DHA during the postnatal period have reduced plasma AA and DHA status (Putnam et al, 1982;Innis et al, 1990;Ghebremeskel et al, 1995;Farquharson et al, 1993Farquharson et al, , 1995Makrides et al, 1994). Some studies have described lower transient visual and cognitive abilities (Jorgensen et al, 1994;Carlson et al, 1994Carlson et al, , 1996aUauy et al, 1992;Birch et al, 1993;Makrides et al, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids are strongly associated in maternal and neonatal blood

et al. 2000

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Background: The red cell membrane fatty acid composition has frequently been used as an index of essential fatty acid (EFA) nutrition. After birth there is a decline in plasma arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids in babies fed on conventional formula which contains only the parent linoleic and a-linolenic acids. In human studies, the red cell phosphoglyceride composition appears to be more constant than that of plasma. In infants fed ®sh oil without AA, the AA proportions fall in the plasma but much less so in the red cells. This result might be considered to mean that there is no need for preformed AA. On the other hand, in a study where the levels of AA fell there was reduction of infant growth. Indeed, where cell membrane composition does change there is often an associated alteration in physiological functions of membranes. We therefore felt it worth investigating the balance between AA and DHA in a physiological situation where plasma levels are known to change, namely in pregnancy. Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate a relationship between blood phosphoglyceride AA and DHA in pregnant women and neonates. Subjects: Health pregnant women from London, England (n 193) and their term babies n 45 ; healthy pregnant women from Seoul, South Korea n 40 and their term babies n 40); and preterm neonates n 72 from London. Method: Blood samples were taken from British and Korean pregnant women during the third trimester, and from term and preterm babies at birth. These samples were taken for routine monitoring purposes in Korea and were a part of a study on pregnancy outcome for which ethical permission was granted from the East London and The City Health Authority and Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority. Approval was also obtained from the Ethical Committee of the Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, South Korea. Results: AA and DHA correlated in plasma choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) of the British mothers (r 0.52 P`0.0001). The correlation coef®cients and signi®cance were much stronger in the red cell CPG and even more so in the term and preterm infant red cell CPGs (r 0.75, 0.80 and 0.88, respectively). Similarly, AA and DHA correlated in red cell CPGs of the Korean women and their term babies. There was also a signi®cant relationship between the two fatty acids in red cell ethanolamine phosphoglycerides in the mothers and their babies. Both linoleic (LA) and -linolenic acids (ALA) were inversely associated with AA and DHA in some of the phosphoglyceride fractions of the mothers and babies. Conclusions: Although AA and DHA have different primary dietary origins, there were signi®cant relationships between AA and DHA in the phosphoglycerides of the red cell membrane. This ®nding seems surprising if the red cell composition is determined by diet. These results suggest a physiological mechanism which attempts to maintain an appropriate balance between AA and DHA. It is plausible that there is an optimum balance between AA and DHA for membrane stability, deformability, enzyme and recep...

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“…The observations that DHA is found in high concentrations in the retina and accumulates in the brain during early life (from 3 months of gestation to 18 months after delivery in human subjects) and that feeding animals an n-3 PUFA-deficient diet results in visual and cognitive abnormalities suggests that an adequate supply of n-3 PUFA, in particular preformed DHA, is required for the development and function of the central nervous system, including the retina and brain (21,22) . Studies undertaken in preterm infants have demonstrated that formulas containing DHA improve visual function early in infancy (23) .…”

Section: N-3 Fatty Acids: Dietary Sources and Typical Intakesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender differences in then-3 fatty acid content of tissues

et al. 2008

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Dietary n-3 PUFA have many beneficial effects on cell and tissue function and on human health. In mammals the n-3 essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALNA) can be converted into longer-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA such as EPA and DHA via a series of desaturase and elongase enzymes that are mainly active in the liver. Human studies have identified that males and females appear to differ in their ability to synthesise EPA and DHA from ALNA, with associated differences in circulating concentrations. Based on studies of women using the contraceptive pill or hormone-replacement therapy and of trans-sexual subjects it is suggested that sex hormones play a role in these differences. The rat has been used to investigate gender differences in n-3 PUFA status since this model allows greater dietary control than is possible in human subjects. Like human subjects, female rats have higher plasma DHA concentrations than males. Rats also respond to increased dietary ALNA in a way that is comparable with available human data. The concentrations of LC n-3 PUFA in rat plasma and tissues are positively associated with circulating concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone and negatively associated with circulating concentrations of testosterone. These findings suggest that sex hormones act to modify plasma and tissue n-3 PUFA content, possibly by altering the expression of desaturase and elongase enzymes in the liver, which is currently under investigation.

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Age- and Dietary-Related Distributions of Hepatic Arachidonic and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Early Infancy

Cited by 39 publications

References 12 publications

Role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant nutrition

Role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant nutrition

Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids are strongly associated in maternal and neonatal blood

Gender differences in then-3 fatty acid content of tissues

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