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LCPUFA requirements for preterm infants: neurophysiological studies

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Recent Developments in Infant Nutrition

Part of the book series: Tenth Nutricia Symposium ((NUSY,volume 9))

Abstract

Although the need for specific components as a prerequisite for the proper growth and development of animals and possibly humans was introduced in the 1930s (1), essential fatty acids (EFA) were considered of marginal importance until the 1960s when signs of clinical deficiency became apparent in infants fed skim-milk-based formula and in those receiving lipid-free parenteral nutrition (2–5). During the past decade, it has become generally accepted that n-6 as well as n-3 fatty acids play a key role in perinatal nutrition, especially for the developing CNS. Clinical manifestations of EFA deficiency disappear after the administration of diets that provide 2% or more of the calories as linoleic acid (LA, 18:2 n-6) (2–7). More subtle clinical symptoms appear in n-3 EFA deficiency: these include skin changes unresponsive to LA supplementation, abnormal visual function and peripheral neuropathy (8). Nervous system manifestations are probably caused by an insufficient supply of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3), the metabolic derivative of α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 n-3).

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid, 20:4 n-6

ALA:

α-linolenic acid, 18:3 n-3

ANS:

autonomic nervous system

AS:

active sleep

CNS:

central nervous system

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid, 22:5 n-6

EEG:

electroencephalogram

EFA:

essential fatty acid

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 n-3

ERG:

electroretinogram

HF:

variability of the high frequency

HM:

human milk

HRV:

heart rate variability

IS:

indeterminate sleep

LA:

linoleic acid, 18:2 n-6

LCPUFA:

long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

LF:

variability of the low frequency

MAR:

minimal angle of resolution

PNS:

parasympathetic nervous system

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

QS:

quiet sleep

RBC:

red blood cell

REM:

rapid eye movements

SNS:

sympathetic nervous system

SWS:

slow-wave sleep

TPN:

total parenteral nutrition

VEP:

visual evoked potential

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Authors
  1. R. Uauy
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  2. P. Peirano
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  3. P. Mena
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  4. D. Hoffman
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  5. D. Birch
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  6. E. Birch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nutricia Research, PO Box 1, 2700 MA, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands

    J. G. Bindels  & A. C. Goedhart  & 

  2. Ghisebrecht Bokellaan 29, 3054 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    H. K. A. Visser

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© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Uauy, R., Peirano, P., Mena, P., Hoffman, D., Birch, D., Birch, E. (1996). LCPUFA requirements for preterm infants: neurophysiological studies. In: Bindels, J.G., Goedhart, A.C., Visser, H.K.A. (eds) Recent Developments in Infant Nutrition. Tenth Nutricia Symposium, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1790-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1790-3_12

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  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7298-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1790-3

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