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Relationships between red blood cell vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acid in the premature infant
D Bouglé1, A Nouvelot, C Billeaud
1Laboratoire de Physiologie and Département de Pédiatrie, CHU de Caen, France.
Insights
Infant formulas with varying alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) did not affect polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels or red blood cell (RBC) membrane integrity. Alpha-tocopherol (alpha T) showed correlations with specific PUFAs in RBC membranes.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Low-birth-weight (LBW) infants require specialized nutrition for optimal development.
- Red blood cell (RBC) membrane composition reflects nutrient intake and status.
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid crucial for infant growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different ALA concentrations in infant formulas on RBC membrane fatty acid composition and integrity.
- To determine the relationship between alpha-tocopherol (alpha T) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in LBW infants fed specific formulas.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving LBW infants fed breast milk (BM), a standard formula (PG), or an ALA-enriched formula (ALA-PG).
- Analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and alpha-tocopherol (alpha T) in RBC membrane phospholipids at specific time points (Day 2, Day 15, term).
- Statistical analysis, including multiple regression, to assess correlations between nutrients and membrane parameters.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in PUFA concentrations were observed between the BM, PG, and ALA-PG groups from Day 2 to term.
- RBC membrane integrity, assessed by the alpha T/phospholipids ratio, remained stable over time and did not differ across the feeding groups.
- Multiple regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between alpha T and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at Day 15 and term, and with arachidonic acid (AA) at Day 15.
Conclusions:
- Enteral feeding with formulas containing 0.5% or 1.7% ALA did not alter RBC membrane PUFA profiles or integrity in LBW infants compared to breast milk.
- A metabolic interplay between alpha T and long-chain PUFAs (DHA, AA) in RBC membranes is suggested, particularly at later time points.
- These findings support the adequacy of standard and ALA-enriched formulas in maintaining essential fatty acid status and membrane integrity in LBW infants.
Abstract:
Low-birth-weight infants were fed breast milk (BM, n = 25) for 1 of 2 formulas containing 0.5 (PG, n = 32) or 1.7% fatty acids as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)(ALA-PG, n = 31). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and alpha-tocopherol (alpha T) of RBC membrane phospholipids were measured at days 2 (D2) and 15 (D15) of enteral feeding, and at term. PUFA concentrations did not differ significantly between the 3 groups from D2 to term. The membrane integrity assessed by the alpha T/phospholipids ratio neither changed with time nor differed between formula groups. A metabolic relationship between alpha T and long-chain PUFA in RBC membranes was suggested by multiple regression analysis: alpha T showed a significant positive correlation with docosahexaenoic acid at D15 and term and with arachidonic acid at D15; the correlation with arachidonic acid tended toward significantly (p = 0.06) at term.