Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane lipids in healthy subjects from birth to young adulthood

Abstract

The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane lipids may better reflect the fatty acid status of the organism than the fatty acid composition of plasma lipids. The present study aimed to provide normal values for erythrocyte fatty acid composition in a sizeable group of healthy subjects throughout the paediatric age group. The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids was determined by high-resolution capillary gas chromatography in 188 apparently healthy subjects from birth to young adulthood (newborns: n=17, infants: n=97, children: n=38, young adults: n=36). The values of linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) increased steadily between birth and young adulthood (newborns: 6.49 [2.45], infants: 14.51 [4.32], children: 18.10 [3.25], young adults: 19.87 [2.03], PC lipids, shown as median [interquartile range, IQR], p<0.001]. In contrast, the values of arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) were significantly higher in children than in young adults (PC: 9.48 [6.64] versus 8.00 [1.85], PE: 26.38 [3.98] versus 24.46 [2.44], p<0.05). The values of alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) decreased significantly between children and young adults (0.14 [0.11] versus 0.08 [0.07], PE lipids, p<0.05). The values of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) increased significantly from infancy through childhood up to young adulthood (PE: 4.20 [2.41] and 4.55 [0.97] and 6.66 [1.81], p<0.05 and 0.001, respectively). We found significantly higher total trans isomeric fatty acid values in newborns than in infants (PC: 0.60 [0.27] versus 0.43 [0.19], p<0.05; PE: 0.66 [0.76] versus 0.30 [0.26], p<0.001). From the results, we conclude that: (1) the data obtained in the present study may serve as reference values in the evaluation of the fatty acid status from birth to young adulthood; (2) the significantly higher values of trans fatty acids at birth than at later stages of life may be of concern, because previous studies suggested that trans fatty acids may interfere with essential fatty acid metabolism during the perinatal period.

trans Isomeric fatty acids are inversely related to the availability of long-chain PUFAs in the perinatal period

“…We recently compared fatty acid compositional data obtained from erythrocyte membrane lipids in 17 newborns with those from 97 infants investigated at the median age of 6 mo (39). Median TFA values decreased significantly between the 2 periods investigated, from 0.60% to 0.43% in phosphatidylcholine lipids and from 0.66% to 0.30% in phosphatidylethanolamine lipids (39). The significant decrease in erythrocyte membrane TFA values from birth to the age of 6 mo appears to run in parallel with the significant decrease in TFAs in HM by the age of 6 mo seen in another study (15).…”

Reference values of whole-blood fatty acids by age and sex from European children aged 3–8 years

“…Whereas national data on the blood FA composition of young children stem mainly from small and a few large study populations, 27, 28, 29 international data from unselected populations are missing. Therefore, we aim to establish reference values for 3–8-year-old European children.…”

Erythrocyte fatty acid status in a convenience sample of residents of the Guatemalan Pacific coastal plain

“…All classes of fatty acids are found in erythrocytes [18] including both n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA. As shown by Jakobik et al [19] and Sun et al [36], the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane lipids may better reflect the fatty acid status of an organism than the fatty acid composition of plasma lipids. Studies have also confirmed that erythrocyte fatty acids are nutritional biomarkers that accurately reflect dietary intakes of specific fatty acids consumed over the past few months and over time in both adults and children [16,17,36].…”

“…However, only a few studies have described erythrocyte fatty acid composition in children and adults. Many of these studies considered erythrocyte fatty acid data from individuals living in high-income countries [18,19,21,22] or those with medical conditions [23][24][25], and some studies have only small sample sizes [20].…”