Determination of the optimal ratio of linoleic acid to α-linolenic acid in infant formulas

Kristin J. Clark, Maria Makrides, Mark A. Neumann, Robert A. Gibson

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150 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte total lipids taken from a group of term infants 10 weeks after being fed a commercial infant formula with a high ratio of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) (LA) to α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) (ALA) (19:1; LA, 14%; ALA, 0.7%; group A, n=10) was compared with the fatty acid composition of erythrocytes from infants fed formulas that contained LA/ALA ratios reduced by either increasing ALA (4:1; LA, 13%; ALA, 3.3%; group B, n=11) or decreasing LA (3:1; LA, 3.5%; ALA, 1.1%; group C, n=8). Results were compared with those in an age-controlled group (n=9) of breast-fed infants. Decreasing the LA/ALA ratio increased n-3 C20 and C22 fatty acid incorporation (formula B=8.98%±0.65%; formula C=9.30%±0.95%) relative to formula A (5.97%±0.76%; p<0.05). Although docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) (DHA) incorporation was highest in infants fed formulas B and C (4.78%±0.45% and 4.48%±0.49%, respectively) relative to formula A (3.47%±0.46%; p<0.05), it did not reach levels found in breast-fed infants (6.55%±1.23%; p<0.05). In addition, levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) (AA) were lower in all formula-fed groups (p<0.05) relative to those in breast-fed infants. Based on some equations, it is predicted that AA levels in tissues of infants fed lower LA/ALA ratios would be reduced even further. Because both AA and DHA are probably essential for normal neural development of the infant, formulas with LA/ALA ratios below 4:1 are likely to result in fatty acid profiles notably different from those of breast-fed infants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S151-S158
JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics
Volume120
Issue number4 PART 2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - Apr 1992
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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