ADDITION OF LONG-CHAIN POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS TO FORMULA FOR VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Thirty-four premature infants who were appropriate for gestational age and weighing less than 1500 g at birth were fed "preemie" SMA-24 formula, "preemie" SMA-24 formula manufactured to contain C20 and C22 omega6 and omega3 fatty acids (LCPE-SMA), or expressed milk (EBM). Blood samples were drawn from a small arm vein during the first week of life and after 28 days of feeding. The fatty acid content of plasma phospholipids was determined. Infants fed SMA-24 had a high content of 18:2omega6 in plasma phospholipids. Feeding LCPE-SMA normalized plasma phospholipid levels of C20 and C22 omega6 and omega3 fatty acids to be similar to levels of C20 and C22 omega6 and omega3 fatty acids found in infants fed EBM, and significantly higher than characteristic levels for infants fed SMA-24. Feeding LCPE-SMA or EBM results in a balanced incorporation of C20 and C22 omega6 and omega3 fatty acids into phospholipids derived from the liver or perhaps the small intestine.