Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Visual acuity and blood lipids in term infants fed human milk or formulae

  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

This multicenter, parallel group study determined plasma phospholipid and red blood cell (RBC) phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine fatty acids, plasma cholesterol, apo A-1 and B, growth and visual acuity (using the acuity card procedure) in term infants fed from birth to 90 d of age with formula containing palm-olein, high oleic sunflower, coconut and soy oil (22.2% 16∶0, 36.2% 18∶1, 18% 18∶2n−6, 1.9% 18∶3n−3) (n=59) or coconut and soy oil (10.3% 16∶0 18∶6% 18∶1, 34.2% 18∶2n−6, 4.7% 18∶3n−3) (n=57) or breast-fed (n=56) with no formula supplementation. Different centers in North America were included to overcome potential bias due to differences in n−6 or n−3 fatty acids at birth or in breast-fed infants that might occur in a single-site study. Plasma and RBC phospholipid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22∶6n−3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20∶4n−6), cholesterol and apo B were significantly lower in the formula- than breast-fed infants. There were no differences in looking acuity or growth among the breast-fed and formula-fed infants. No significant relations were found between DHA and looking acuity, or AA and growth within or among any of the infant groups. This study provides no evidence to suggest the formula provided inadequate n−6 or n−3 fatty acids for growth and looking acuity for the first 3 mon after birth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

CNS:

central nervous system

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

LA:

linoleic acid

LNA:

linolenic acid

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine

RBC:

red blood cell

VEP:

visual evoked potential

References

  1. Bourre, J.-M., Francois, M., Youyou, A.G., Dumont, O., Piciotti, M., Pascal, G., and Durand, G. (1989) The Effects of Dietary α-Linolenic Acid on the Composition of Nerve Membranes, Enzymatic Activity, Amplitude of Electrophysiological Parameters, Resistance to Poisons and Performance of Learning Tasks in Rats, J. Nutr. 119, 1880–1892.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Innis, S.M. (1991) Essential Fatty Acids in Growth and Development, Prog. Lipid Res. 30, 39–103.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Neuringer, M., Connor, W.E., Van Petten, C., and Barstad, L. (1984) Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency and Visual Loss in Infant Rhesus Monkeys, J. Clin. Invest. 73, 272–276.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Neuringer, M., Connor, W.E., Lin, D.S., Barstad, L., and Luck, S. (1986) Biochemical and Functional Effects of Prenatal and Postal n−3 Fatty Acid Deficiency on Retina and Brain in Rhesus Monkeys, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 4021–4025.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Moore, S.A., Yoder, L., and Spector, A.A. (1990) Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Formation of Long-Chain n−3 and n−6 Fatty Acids from Essential Fatty Acid Precursors, J. Neurochem. 55, 391–402.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Moore, S.A., Yoder, E., Murphy, S., Dutton, G.R., and Spector, A.A. (1991) Astrocytes, Not Neurons. Produce Docosahexaenoic Acid (22∶6n−3) and Arachidonic Acid (20∶4n−6), J. Neurochem. 56, 518–524.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wetzel, M.G., Li, L., Alvarez, R.A., Anderson, R.E., and O’Brien, P.J. (1991) Metabolism of Linolenic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid in Rat Retinas and Rod Outer Segments, Exp. Eye Res. 53, 437–446.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Scott, B.L., and Bazan, N.G. (1989) Membrane Docosahexaenoate Is Supplied to the Developing Brain and Retina by the Liver, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 2903–2907.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Brenner, R.R., and Peluffo, R.O. (1969) Regulation of Unsaturated Fatty Acids Biosynthesis. 1. Effect of Unsaturated Fatty Acid of 18 Carbons on the Microsomal Desaturation of Linoleic Acid into γ-Linolenic Acid, Biochim. Biophys. Act. 176, 471–479.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Demmelmair, H., Schenck, U., Behrendt, E., Sauerwald, T., and Koletzko, B. (1995) Estimation of Arachidonic Acid Synthesis in Full-Term Neonates Using Natural Variation of 13C Content, J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 21, 31–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sauerwald, T., Jensen, C.L., Chen, H.M., Anderson, R.E., Heird, W.C., and Hachey, D.L. (1995) Effect of Dietary 18∶3n3 Intake and Postnatal Age on the Kinetics of Elongation and Desaturation of 18∶2n6 and 18∶3n3, Pediatr. Res. 37, 319A.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Innis, S.M., Nelson, C.M., Rioux, M.F., and King, D.J. (1994) Development of Visual Acuity in Relation to Plasma and Erythrocyte n−6 and n−3 Fatty Acids in Healthy Term Gestation Infants, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 60, 347–352.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Makrides, M., Simmer, K., Goggin, M., and Gibson, R.A. (1993) Erythrocyte Docosahexaenoic Acid Correlated with the Visual Response of Healthy, Term Infants, Pediatr. Res. 34, 425–427.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ponder, D.L., Innis, S.M., Benson, J.D., and Siegman, J.S. (1992) Docosahexaenoic Acid Status of Term Infants Fed Breast Milk or Infant Formula Containing Soy Oil or Corn Oil, Pediatr. Res. 32, 683–688.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Putnam, J.C., Carlson, S.E., DeVoe, P.W., and Barness, L.A. (1982) The Effect of Variations in Dietary Fatty Acids on the Fatty Acid Composition of Erythrocyte Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylethanolamine in Human Infants, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 36, 106–114.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Auestad, N., Montalto, M.B., Wheeler, R.E., Fitzgerald, K.R., Hall, R.T., Neuringer, M., Connor, W.E., Hartmann, E.E., and Taylor, J.A. (1995) Visual Acuity, RBC Fatty Acids and Growth in Term Infants Fed Formulas with and Without Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCP), Ped. Res. 37, 302A.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Innis, S.M., Nelson, C.M., Rioux, F.M., Lwanga, D., and Waslen, P. (1995) Feeding Formula Without Arachidonic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Has No Effect on Preferential Looking Acuity or Recognition Memory in Healthy Term Infant, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 64, 40–46.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Carlson, S.E., Ford, A.J., Peeples, J.M., and Werkman, S.H. (1995) Visual Acuity in Term Infants Fed Human Milk or Randomly Assigned to a Formula with or Without Long-Chain n−3 and n−6 Fatty Acids, Pediatr. Res. 37, 303A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Jorgensen, M.H., Hernell, O., Lund, P., Holmer, G., and Michaelsen, K.F. (1994) Visual Acuity and Erythrocyte Docosahexaenoic Acid Status in Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Term Infants During the First Four Months of Life, Lipids 31, 99–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Makrides, M., Neumann, M., Simmer, K., Pater, J., and Gibson, R. (1993) Are Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Essential Nutrients in Infancy? Lancet 345, 1463–1468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Carlson, S.E., Cooke, R.J., Werkman, S.H., and Tolley, E.A. (1992) First-Year Growth of Preterm Infants Fed Standard Compared to Marine-Oil n−3 Supplemented Formula, Lipids 27, 901–907.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Jensen, C.L., Chen, H.M., Prager, T.C., Anderson, R.E., and Heird, W.C. (1995) Effect of 18∶3n−3 Intake on Plasma Fatty Acids, Growth and Visual Development of Preterm Infants, Pediatr. Res. 37, 311A.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dewey, K.G., Heinig, J., and Nommsen, L.A. (1992) Growth of Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Infants from Birth to 18 Months: the Darling Study. 2, Pediatrics 89, 1035–1041.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Salomao, S.R., and Ventura, D.F. (1995) Large Sample Population Age Norms for Visual Acuities Obtained with Vistech-Teller Acuity Cards, Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 36, 657–670.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Mayer, D.L., Beiser, A.S., Warner, A.F., Pratt, E.M., Raye, K.N., and Lang, J.M. (1995) Monocular Acuity Norms for the Teller Acuity Cards Between Ages One Month and Four Years, Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 36, 671–685.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. McDonald, M.A., Dobson, V., Sebris, S.L., Baitch, L., Varner, D., and Teller, D.Y. (1985) The Acuity Card Procedure: A Rapid Test of Infant Acuity, Invest Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 26, 1158–1162.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Innis, S.M., Dyer, R., and Nelson, C.M. (1994) Evidence That Palmitic Acid Is Absorbed as Sn-2 Monoacylglycerol from Human Milk by Breast-Fed Infants, Lipids 29, 541–545.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. LePage, G., and Roy, C.C. (1987) Direct Transesterfication of All Classes of Lipids in a One-Step Reaction, J. Lipid. Res. 27, 114–120.

    Google Scholar 

  29. McNamara, J.R., and Schaefer, E.J. (1987) Automated Enzymatic Standardized Lipid Analyses for Plasma and Lipoprotein Fractions, Clin. Chim. Acta. 166, 1–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Cheung, M.C., and Albers, J.J. (1977) The Measurement of Apolipoprotein A-I and A-II Levels in Men and Women by Immunoassay, J. Clin. Invest. 60, 43–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. van Elteren, P.H. (1960) On the Combination of Independent Two-Sample Tests of Wilcoxon, Bull. Int. Statis. Instit. 37, 351–361.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Janowsky, J.S., Scott, D.T., Wheeler, R.E., and Auestad, N. (1995) Fatty Acids Affect Early Language Development, Pediatr. Res. 37, 310A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Allen, D., Bennett, P.J., and Banks, M.S. (1992) The Effects of Luminance on FPL and VEP Acuity in Human Infants, Vis. Res. 11, 2005–2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Dobson, V. (1993) Visual Acuity Testing in Infants; from Laboratory to Clinic, Early Visual Development, Simons, K. (ed.), Oxford University Press, pp. 317–334.

  35. Mize, C.E., Uauy, R., Kramer, R., Benser, M., Allen, S., and Grundy, S.M. (1995) Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Responses in Healthy Term Infants Fed Defined Diets from Ages 1–12 Months: Comparison of Diets Predominant in Oleic Acid Versus Linoleic Acid, with Parallel Observations in Infants Fed a Human Milk-Based Diet, J. Lipid. Res. 36, 1178–1187.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Mattson, F.H., and Grundy, S.M. (1985) Comparison of Dietary Saturated, Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Man, J. Lipid Res. 26, 194–202.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Zock, P.L., de Vries, J.H.M., and Katan, M.B. (1994) Impact of Myristic Acid Versus Palmitic Acid on Serum Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels in Healthy Women and Men, Arterioscler. Thromb. 14, 567–575.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Kallio, M.J.T., Salmenpera, L., Siimes, M.A., Perheentupa, J., and Miettinien, T.A. (1992) Exclusive Breast-Feeding and Weaning: Effect on Serum Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Concentrations in Infants During the First Year of Life, Pediatrics 89, 663–666.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Van Biervliet, J.P., Vinaimont, N., Vercaemst, R., and Rosseneu, M. (1992) Serum Cholesterol, Cholesteryl Ester, and High Density Lipoprotein Development in Newborn Infants: Response to Formulas Supplemented with Cholesterol and γ-Linolenic Acid, J. Pediatr. 120, S101–108.409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Hayes, K.C., and Khosla, P. (1992) Dietary Fatty Acid Thresholds and Cholesterolemia, FASEB J. 6, 2600–2607.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Rioux, F.M., Innis, S.M., Dyer, R. and MacKinnon, J. (1996) Diet-Induced Changes in Liver and Bile but Not Brain Fatty Acids Can Be Predicted from Changes in Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Formula and Milk-Fed Piglets, J. Nutr., in press.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mead Johnson Research Center, Evansville, Indiana

    Salim S. Akrabawi, Deborah A. Diersen-Schade & David G. Guy

  2. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

    M. Velma Dobson

  3. B.C. Research Institute for Child and Family Health, University of British Columbia, Department of Paediatrics, 950 West 28th Ave., V5Z 4H4, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

    Sheila M. Innis

Authors
  1. Sheila M. Innis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Salim S. Akrabawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Deborah A. Diersen-Schade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Velma Dobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. David G. Guy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Innis, S.M., Akrabawi, S.S., Diersen-Schade, D.A. et al. Visual acuity and blood lipids in term infants fed human milk or formulae. Lipids 32, 63–72 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-997-0010-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-997-0010-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation