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Whole blood fatty acid composition differs in term versus mildly preterm infants: small versus matched appropriate

Carlo Agostoni1, Franca Marangoni, Giorgio Stival

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. carlo.agostoni@unimi.it

Pediatric Research
|May 7, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Whole blood fatty acid (FA) profiles are linked to infant growth. Specific FA patterns in newborns may indicate restricted intrauterine growth (IUGR) or appropriate growth for gestational age (AGA).

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Research

Background:

  • Restricted intrauterine growth, termed small for gestational age (SGA), affects infant health.
  • Fatty acid (FA) profiles are crucial for fetal development and may be altered in SGA infants.
  • Understanding these FA differences can inform interventions for growth restriction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between whole blood FA composition and restricted intrauterine growth (small for gestational age - SGA).
  • To compare FA profiles in SGA infants versus appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants, stratified by gestational age (term and preterm).

Main Methods:

  • Case-control study matching SGA infants with AGA infants.
  • Whole blood samples collected on day 4 and analyzed for FA percentage composition using gas chromatography.
  • Comparison of FA profiles between SGA and AGA groups, including term and preterm infants.

Main Results:

  • Preterm infants had higher levels of parent n-6 and n-3 fatty acids.
  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was higher in term appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants compared to term SGA and preterm infants.
  • Term AGA infants showed a significantly higher DHA/alpha-linolenic acid ratio compared to all other groups.
  • Term SGA infants had lower monounsaturated FA and higher eicosapentaenoic acid levels.

Conclusions:

  • The 4-day whole blood fatty acid profile is associated with both gestational age and birth weight.
  • Specific fatty acid patterns may serve as biomarkers for restricted intrauterine growth.
  • Further research into FA supplementation could potentially mitigate the effects of growth restriction.

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