Fatty acid profiles of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids in breast of formula-fed malnourished infants

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from essential fatty acids (EFA) play an important role in prenatal visual and neural development. Protein-energy malnutrition affects PUFA supply, and hence the synthesis of structural lipids during growth. Recently, some physiological studies reported abnormalities in the neurological functions of formula-fed infants relative to breast-fed. The purpose of our study was to assess whether fatty acid composition of the malnourished infant diet modifies plasma end erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition. Three groups of full-term malnourished infants were selected according to their prior feeding. Two groups had received commercial formulas, one of them supplied with linoleic and alpha -linolenic acid, and the other supplied in addition with long chain PUFA from n-3 and n-6 series. The reference group of breast-fed infants was also enrolled. Plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Those infants receiving formulas showed in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids increased values in total saturated and monoethylenic fatty acids, and decreased values in polyunsaturated fatty acids from both n-6 and n-3 series, relative to that of breast-fed infants. These differences were more remarkable in the case of infants who received formula without PUFA. We conclude that in malnourished infants, a nutrient formula enriched with long chain fatty acids of n-6 and n-3 series could be helpful to achieve an erythrocyte and plasma fatty acid pattern similar to that obtained in breast-fed infants.