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Dietary intake and plasma concentrations of PUFA and LC-PUFA in breastfed and formula fed infants under real-life conditions

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Abstract

Background

The breastfed infant is usually used as standard for formula feeding, also regarding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Here, plasma fatty acid concentrations in formula fed infants and the effects of LC-PUFA supplementation were investigated under real-life conditions.

Method

Term healthy infants being fully milk fed until the age of 4 months were categorized as breast milk “BM” (n = 73) if consuming >95% of energy from breast milk or formula (F) if consuming >95% of energy from formula subdivided into formula without (F−) (n = 15) and with LC-PUFA supplementation (F+) (n = 15). Formula as marketed was chosen by the parents. Dietary fatty acids (FA) intake was calculated from continuous dietary records from 2 months of age onwards. Total plasma FA were analyzed at the age of 4 months with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as primary outcome.

Results

Dietary ratios of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; linoleic acid/alpha-linolenic acid) were smaller in both F groups than in the BM group. Plasma DHA as % of total FA was similar in BM and F(+) but higher in BM in absolute amounts (mg/L). Plasma DHA as % of total FA in F(−) was higher than what might be supposed on the basis of dietary intake.

Conclusion

Infants consuming present-day LC-PUFA-supplemented formula achieved plasma LC-PUFA concentrations similar to breastfed infants. In infants consuming non-LC-PUFA-supplemented formula, the favorable PUFA pattern of the formula may have supported n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthesis.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the Central Marketing Organization of German Agricultural Economics (CMA), Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP), Brökelmann+Co, Oil mill GmbH+Co and Seed and Seed stock Group of North Germany AG Georg Lembke. We thank the two pediatricians from the Pediatric Clinic, Dortmund (Germany) for medical examinations and blood sampling. We thank Dr. P-E. Reimitz for statistical advice. The cooperation of the maternity clinics in the Dortmund region during recruitment of mothers and newborns is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Heinstück 11, 44225, Dortmund, Germany

    Jana Schwartz, Claudia Drossard, Katharina Dube & Mathilde Kersting

  2. Pediatric Clinic, Dortmund, Germany

    Hermann Kalhoff

  3. Institute of Arteriosclerosis Research, University of Muenster, Münster, Germany

    Frank Kannenberg

  4. Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany

    Clemens Kunz

Authors
  1. Jana Schwartz
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  2. Claudia Drossard
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  3. Katharina Dube
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  4. Frank Kannenberg
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  5. Clemens Kunz
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  6. Hermann Kalhoff
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  7. Mathilde Kersting
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Correspondence to Mathilde Kersting.

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Schwartz, J., Drossard, C., Dube, K. et al. Dietary intake and plasma concentrations of PUFA and LC-PUFA in breastfed and formula fed infants under real-life conditions. Eur J Nutr 49, 189–195 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-009-0067-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-009-0067-1

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