Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation and Early Inflammation in Preterm Infants: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized
Kristina Wendel1,2, Gunnthorunn Gunnarsdottir2,3, Marlen Fossan Aas1,2
1Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Supplementing very preterm infants with arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduced IL-6 levels, a key inflammatory marker. Low gestational age was linked to higher inflammation in these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Nutritional science
- Immunology
Background:
- Postnatal inflammation poses significant risks for preterm infants.
- Essential fatty acids, arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are crucial for resolving inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of ARA and DHA supplementation on systemic inflammation in very preterm infants.
- To identify clinical factors associated with early inflammation in this population.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the randomized ImNuT study data.
- Infants (GA < 29 weeks) received either ARA/DHA or MCT oil supplementation.
- Analyzed blood levels of ARA, DHA, and key proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) from birth to 28 days.
Main Results:
- The ARA:DHA group showed significantly lower IL-6 levels (AUC log10: 0.16 pg/mL, p=0.018) from day 3 to 28 compared to controls.
- No correlation was found between infant blood concentrations of ARA or DHA and cytokine levels.
- Lower gestational age was independently associated with elevated levels of all measured cytokines in the first four weeks of life.
Conclusions:
- Enteral supplementation with ARA and DHA may effectively modulate systemic inflammation in very preterm infants.
- Gestational age is a critical factor influencing early inflammatory responses in neonates.
Introduction:
Postnatal inflammation is associated with increased mortality and adverse outcomes in preterm infants. The essential fatty acids arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are precursors of lipid mediators with a key role in resolving inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the effect of ARA and DHA supplementation on systemic inflammation in very preterm infants and to identify clinical factors associated with early inflammation.
Methods:
Secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial (ImNuT study). Infants with gestational age (GA) less than 29 weeks were randomized to receive a daily enteral supplement with ARA 100 mg/kg and DHA 50 mg/kg (ARA:DHA group) or MCT oil (control group) from the second day of life to 36 weeks postmenstrual age. ARA, DHA, and four proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) were analyzed in repeated dried blood samples from birth to day 28 and the area under the curve (AUC) for each variable was calculated.
Results:
The intention to treat population included 120 infants with mean (SD) GA 26.4 (1.7). The ARA:DHA group had significantly lower IL-6 levels from day 3 to day 28 compared to the control group, mean difference AUC log10 (95% CI): 0.16 (0.03-0.30) pg/mL, p = 0.018. There was no correlation between ARA or DHA blood concentrations and cytokine levels. Having a low gestational age was independently associated with increased levels of all cytokines during the first 4 weeks of life.
Conclusions:
Enhanced supplementation with ARA and DHA may modulate inflammation in very preterm infants.
More Related Videos
09:36Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
Published on: July 28, 2022
07:36Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...