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

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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.

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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

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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

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  1. Sheila M. Innis
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  2. Salim S. Akrabawi
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  4. M. Velma Dobson
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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

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

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