[Serum fatty acids in premature neonates]

Abstract

In the past we have published several papers concerning the evolution of large spectrum of fatty acids in the brain or in the blood-serum in rats or in human newborns (and their mothers just after the delivery). Therefore we realized this study: the blood-serum spectrum of fatty acids in the healthy human newborns (n = 32) was compared with the spectrum of fatty acids detected in the blood-serum of human premature neonates (n = 22). The birth-weight in the control group was 3,882, in the premature neonates 2,137 g only. Fatty acids were measured as methylesters (FAME) using the method of gas chromatography and absolutely the same methodological approach as in our previous studies (33, 22, 23). The results were computed by biocybernet. dep. of Physiological institute and the statistics were evaluated by Mann-Whitney U test. It was established that the premature neonates show a distinct greater content (expressed in percentage) of saturated fatty acids and a smaller share of polyenoic FA (PUFA). A further marked difference consists in a significant lower of the n-3 FA and consequently a higher n-6/n-3 index. In premature neonates a significant increase of caprylic acid and arachidonic acid in the blood-serum was detected. The significance of described changes in the participation of single fatty acids in the premature neonates for their maturation, structural evolution especially of the brain cells and for therapy, is discussed.