Liver fatty acids and the sudden infant death syndrome

Fatty acid analyses were performed on samples of liver from 325 human infants less than 1 yr old, 275 of whom had died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and 50 of other causes (non-SIDS). Data for fatty acid composition were analyzed in relation to cause of death, age of infant, liver biotin, liver metals, and other variables by a variety of statistical methods. There were significant differences in the levels of liver fatty acids between SIDS and non-SIDS infants in the age group 1 to 6 months, notably in that the fatty acids of the SIDS infants appeared to have lower levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, which is the precursor of the "1-series" prostaglandins. Statistically significant relationships were observed between various fatty acids, and there were also significant relationships involving docosapentaenoic acid and infant age, and docosahexaenoic acid and liver iron content.