The use of low-EPA fish oil for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of preterm infants

Abstract

Because docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be an essential nutrient for the visual and early cognitive development of preterm infants, DHA enrichment of preterm formulas has been recommended. This randomized trial was designed to study the n-6 and n-3 fatty acid status of healthy preterm infants fed a formula enriched with a low eicosapentaenoic-fish oil until 4 mo corrected age compared with that of infants fed a standard formula. A reference group of breast-fed infants was studied concurrently. The fatty acid content of red blood cell (RBC) phospholipid was assessed at enrollment, hospital discharge, expected term, and 3 and 6 mo postterm. The DHA content of RBC phospholipid was higher in infants fed the enriched versus the standard formula at hospital discharge, expected term, and 3 and 6 mo postterm. However, compared with infants fed the standard formula, infants fed the enriched formula had also higher RBC phospholipid eicosapentaenoic content (0.69 +/- 0.15% versus 0.25 +/- 0.12%, p < 0.001), and lower RBC phospholipid arachidonic acid content (15.1 +/- 0.93% versus 18.8 +/- 0.89%; p < 0.001). We conclude that supplementing preterm infants with low-eicosapentaenoic fish oil is effective in improving DHA status, but results in worsening of n-6 fatty acid status. We speculate that preterm infants may require a dietary supply of arachidonic acid as well as DHA if the same fatty acid status as that of breast-fed infants is to be achieved.