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Association between polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and plasma oxylipin profiles in preterm infants: A

Hiroki Suganuma1, Naho Ikeda2, Natsuki Ohkawa2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
|October 9, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) impact oxylipin profiles in preterm infants. Higher intake of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) correlated with lower levels of their derived oxylipins.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neonatal Nutrition
  • Lipid Metabolism

Background:

  • Oxylipins are bioactive lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
  • PUFAs are essential for infant development, obtained through breast milk or formula.
  • Preterm infants have unique nutritional needs and altered metabolic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the oxylipin profile in preterm infants receiving enteral PUFA feeding.
  • To investigate the relationship between dietary PUFA intake and plasma oxylipin levels in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified weekly PUFA intake (breast milk and formula) in 27 preterm infants (30-34 weeks gestation) over 4 weeks.
  • Measured plasma oxylipin levels on postnatal days 7, 14, 21, and 28 using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
  • Analyzed associations between PUFA intake and oxylipins using marginal structural models with inverse probability weighting.

Main Results:

  • Dynamic changes in weekly PUFA intake were observed, with linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) peaking at week 2.
  • Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels showed steady and sharp increases, respectively.
  • AA- and DHA-derived oxylipins exhibited significant inverse correlations with their respective intakes, despite minimal magnitude of change.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary PUFA composition influences the oxylipin profile in preterm infants.
  • Negative correlations between AA/DHA intake and their derived oxylipins suggest a regulatory mechanism.
  • Findings highlight the importance of tailored PUFA nutrition in preterm neonates.
Abstract

Keywords:
breast milkoxylipinpolyunsaturated fatty acidpreterm infant

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