Studying of lipid profile in very preterm infants, and the effects of different omega-6/omega-3 ratio supplementation

Abstract

Nutritional supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids is important in preterm infants neurodevelopment. This was a randomized trial, in which newborns <1500 g and/or <32 weeks gestational age were assigned to one of two groups, based on the milk formula they would receive during the first year of life. Group A were given formula milk with an ω-6/ω-3 ratio of 2/1, and group B given formula milk with an ω-6/ω-3 ratio of 1/1. Growth, visual-evoked potentials, brainstem auditory-evoked potentials, and plasma fatty acids were periodically measured, and psychomotor development was assessed using the Brunet Lézine scale at 24 months. A control group was made up of preterm who were fed exclusively with breast milk. There were no significant differences in growth or evoked potentials between the two formula groups. Very preterm infants who received formula with an ω-6/ω-3 ratio of 2/1 had higher blood levels of essential fatty acids during the first year, and better psychomotor development at 24 months, compared with very preterm newborns who consumed formula with an ω-6/ω-3 of 1/1. Therefore, formula milk with an arachidonic acid quantity double that of docosahexaenoic acid should be considered for feeding very preterm infants.