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Oxidative stress in preterm infants fed a formula containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA)
Tania Siahanidou1, Christina Lazaropoulou, Kelly Michalakakou
1Neonatal Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Supplementing preterm infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) did not impact oxidative stress markers. This study found no significant differences in lipid peroxidation or antioxidant capacity in healthy preterm infants receiving LCPUFA-supplemented formula.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric research
Background:
- Oxidative stress is a concern in preterm infants.
- Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are essential nutrients.
- The role of LCPUFA in neonatal oxidative stress requires clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of dietary LCPUFA supplementation on oxidative stress in healthy preterm infants.
- To compare markers of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity between infants receiving LCPUFA-supplemented and LCPUFA-free formulas.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 104 healthy preterm infants.
- Infants were fed either LCPUFA-supplemented or LCPUFA-free formula.
- Serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA), total peroxide, and total antioxidant capacity were measured.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean serum MDA levels between groups.
- Total peroxide concentrations were largely below detection limits and similar between groups.
- Serum total antioxidant capacity showed no significant difference between the LCPUFA-supplemented and LCPUFA-free formula groups.
Conclusions:
- Dietary supplementation with LCPUFA in infant formula does not appear to affect lipid peroxidation in healthy preterm infants.
- Current infant formulas with or without LCPUFA do not significantly alter oxidative stress markers in this population.
- Further research may explore LCPUFA's role in specific preterm infant subgroups or different outcomes.
Abstract:
Our study examined if dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have an impact on oxidative stress in preterm infants. Serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA), total peroxide concentrations, and total antioxidant capacity were determined at mean (standard deviation [SD]) 34.7 (10.9) days of life in 104 healthy preterm infants (gestational age, 32.6 [2.9] weeks; birthweight; 1605 [285] g) who were randomly assigned to be fed since birth either a formula containing LCPUFA (arachidonic and docosahexaenoic) (group A, n = 50) or a LCPUFA-free formula with identical compositions for other nutrients (group B, n = 54). Clinical and anthropometric characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean (SD) serum MDA levels did not differ significantly between groups A (0.23 [0.04] micromol/L) and B (0.22 [0.05] micromol/L). The concentrations of total peroxides were below the detection limits of the assay in 41 of 50 (82%) infants of group A and 43 of 54 (79%) infants of group B and not significantly different between the two infant groups. No difference was observed in serum total antioxidant capacity between groups A (340.0 [46.2] micromol/L) and B (354.7 [46.5] micromol/L). We concluded that supplementation of infant formulas with LCPUFA does not affect lipid peroxidation in healthy preterm infants.
