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Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in preterm infants: status at birth and its influence on postnatal levels
M M Foreman-van Drongelen1, A C van Houwelingen, A D Kester
1Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Prenatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) supply impacts fetal growth and LCP levels at birth in preterm infants. Maternal LCP status influences neonatal LCP levels, suggesting potential benefits of enriched maternal diets during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Perinatal biochemistry
- Maternal-fetal medicine
Background:
- Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs) are crucial for fetal development.
- Understanding the influence of prenatal LCP supply on infant growth and LCP status is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between prenatal LCP supply and prenatal growth in preterm infants.
- To assess the correlation between LCP status at birth and LCP levels at term postconceptional age.
Main Methods:
- Studied 52 preterm infants, assessing LCP status at birth (umbilical artery wall) and at term postconceptional age (erythrocyte and plasma phospholipids).
- Correlated LCP levels with anthropometric measurements (weight, head circumference, length) and gestational age.
- Analyzed the impact of neonatal diet (human milk vs. formula) on LCP levels.
Main Results:
- Prenatal LCP status at birth was significantly related to anthropometric measurements, indicating a link with prenatal growth.
- LCP levels in erythrocyte phospholipids at term positively correlated with umbilical artery LCP levels, irrespective of neonatal diet.
- Postnatal diet significantly affected plasma phospholipid LCP levels, with formula-fed infants showing lower values.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal LCP status at birth is associated with prenatal growth and is influenced by the prenatal LCP supply.
- Both prenatal LCP status and postnatal diet significantly impact LCP levels at term postconceptional age.
- Further research into essential fatty acid-enriched maternal diets during pregnancy is warranted to optimize neonatal LCP status.
Abstract:
To determine the influence of the prenatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) supply on prenatal growth and on postnatal LCP levels, we studied 52 preterm infants and assessed the relations between the LCP status at birth (reflecting the prenatal LCP supply), gestational age and prenatal growth, and the relation between the LCP status at birth and at 37 to 42 weeks of gestational age. After a correction for gestational age at birth, significant relations (p < or = 0.05) were observed between anthropometric measurements at birth (weight, head circumference, and length) and LCP levels in the umbilical artery wall, the LCP content of which reflects the long-term fetal LCP status. Independent of the neonatal diet (human milk or formula), LCP levels in erythrocyte phospholipids at term were positively related to levels in the umbilical artery wall (docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3): p < or = 0.0003; arachidonic acid (20:4n-6): p = 0.02). Postnatal diet significantly influenced LCP levels in plasma phospholipids at term (docosahexaenoic acid: p < or = 0.004; arachidonic acid: p = 0.02); formula-fed infants had lower values. We conclude that the LCP status of preterm infants at birth is related to prenatal growth. Moreover, next to the postnatal enteral diet, the LCP status at birth significantly affects LCP levels at term postconceptional age. This finding may warrant further studies of the effects of essential fatty acid-enriched maternal diets during pregnancy on the neonatal LCP status at birth.