Decreased postnatal docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid blood levels in premature infants are associated with neonatal morbidities.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To measure the changes in whole blood fatty acid levels in premature infants and evaluate associations between these changes and neonatal morbidities.

STUDY DESIGN:

This was a retrospective cohort study of 88 infants born at <30 weeks' gestation. Serial fatty acid profiles during the first postnatal month and infant outcomes, including chronic lung disease (CLD), retinopathy of prematurity, and late-onset sepsis, were analyzed. Regression modeling was applied to determine the association between fatty acid levels and neonatal morbidities.

RESULTS:

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid levels declined rapidly in the first postnatal week, with a concomitant increase in linoleic acid levels. Decreased DHA level was associated with an increased risk of CLD (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-5.0). Decreased arachidonic acid level was associated with an increased risk of late-onset sepsis (hazard ratio, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7). The balance of fatty acids was also a predictor of CLD and late-onset sepsis. An increased linoleic acid:DHA ratio was associated with an increased risk of CLD (OR, 8.6; 95% CI, 1.4-53.1) and late-onset sepsis (hazard ratio, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.5-14.1).

CONCLUSION:

Altered postnatal fatty acid levels in premature infants are associated with an increased risk of CLD and late-onset sepsis.

• Authors: Camilia R Martin, Deborah A Dasilva, Joanne E Cluette-Brown, Clementina Dimonda, Ashley Hamill, Abdul Q Bhutta, Emmanuel Coronel, Michael Wilschanski, Alisa J Stephens, David F Driscoll, Bruce R Bistrian, James H Ware, Munir M Zaman, Steven D Freedman
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 159 Issue 5 Pg. 743-749.e1-2 (Nov 2011) ISSN: 1097-6833 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21658712 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids
• Docosahexaenoic Acids
• Arachidonic Acid

Topics

• Arachidonic Acid (blood)
• Chronic Disease
• Cohort Studies
• Docosahexaenoic Acids (blood)
• Fatty Acids (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature (blood)
• Lung Diseases (blood, epidemiology)
• Male
• Oxygen Inhalation Therapy
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Retinopathy of Prematurity (blood, epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Sepsis (blood, epidemiology)