Effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of the major phospholipids of infant cerebral cortex.

Abstract

The fatty acid compositions of the major cerebral cortex phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine were measured in 16 term and one preterm 'cot death' infants fed exclusively either breast milk or one of two formulas. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n-3) content in cerebral cortex phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine of breast fed infants was greater than in both formula groups with significances varying between p<001 and p<0001. Compensation for this deficiency in DHA in the formula fed infants was largely achieved by increased incorporation of docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-6) in the cerebral cortex of term infants and Mead (C20:3n-9) and dihomo Mead acids (C22:3n-9) in the preterm infant.As the phospholipids most affected are known to perform an important role in membrane fimction and are possibly integral to neurotransmission it is recommended that breast milk substitute infant formulas should contain n-3 and n-6 series polyunsaturated fatty acids in proportions similar to those ofhuman milk. (Arch Dis Child 1995; 72: 198-203) Approximately 60% of the total energy intake of the infant during the first year is utilised by the brain and much of this energy is used to synthesise neuronal membrane and deposit myelin. Fatty acids from human milk or infant formulas provide not only a source of hydrocarbon for energy production but help synthesise the complex hydrocarbon structures necessary for the creation of neurotransmitter membranes.Breast fed infants have significantly greater concentrations of the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n-3) in their cerebral cortex phospholipids than infants fed current infant formulas.2 3 Cerebral cortex neuronal membrane phospholipids are composed of phosphatidylcholine, phophatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. While the membrane receptor and secondary messenger characteristics of phosphatidylinositol and its meta-

Perinatal biochemistry and physiology of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

“…[90][91][92] The decrease in DHA in frontal cortex PE of infants fed formula with 1.5% LNA or 0.4% LNA was accompanied by increased ARA, 22:4n-6 and DPA, 90 which is consistent with the increase in n-6 fatty acid desaturation that accompanies an inadequate supply of n-3 fatty acids. 5 Although this could be interpreted as evidence that dietary DHA is important for ''optimal'' DHA assimilation in developing human brain, reduced brain DHA also results from inadequate dietary LNA or high LA/ LNA ratios.…”

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and cognitive function at 7 y of age

“…This difference in fatty acid composition may contribute to the known differences in cognitive function between formula-and breastfed children (Anderson et al, 1999). This idea is supported by studies showing a lower brain DHA in infants fed artificial formulas as compared with human milk-fed infants (Farquharson, 1994;Farquharson et al, 1992Farquharson et al, , 1995Makrides et al, 1994).…”

Can perinatal supplementation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids prevent diabetes mellitus?

“…Infants as small as 2 kg and 32 weeks of gestation are capable of elongation and desaturation of EFAs, LA and ALA, and form AA and DHA, respectively. However, vegetable oil-based infant feed formulas lead to sub-optimal neural development and performance due to decrease in brain DHA content (Salem et al, 1993;Farquharson et al, 1995).…”