Growth and nitrogen balance in preterm infants fed formula with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1999-10, Vol.19 (10), p.1497-1505
• Main Authors: Martinez, Francisco Eulógio, dos Santos, Márcia Maria, Sieber, Vanêssa Moura, Camelo, JoséSimon, Ferlin, Maria Lúcia Silveira, Gonçalves, Arthur Lopes, Pinhata, Marisa Márcia Mussi, Jorge, Salim Moysés
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Formula; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth; Human milk; LCP; Nutrition; Preterm infants; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/S0271-5317(99)00106-2

A decrease in nitrogen retention and growth rate has been observed in some formulas supplemented with LCP. In the present study we report on the growth and nitrogen balance of preterm infants fed formula supplemented with or without a blend of LCP containing both ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. A prospective study was conducted on 58 VLBW-infants with a mean ± SEM weight of 1245±21g. The infants were divided into 3 groups. If the mother had milk, the infant received human milk fortified (18 infants). If the mother had no milk, the infant received one of two identical formulas except for the fat component in a double-blind manner (20 infants each group). Infants were followed up for 30 days on their diets. Initial and final anthropometric parameters, BUN, total protein, and albumin were normal and similar in the three groups. Both, protein intake and protein excretion through urine and feces, were similar for the three groups. Mean percent protein absorption was 71%. Plasma amino acid levels were similar at the beginning of the study and after 30 days were similar for the infants fed the two formulas. The infants that received fortified human milk presented significantly higher proline levels and significantly lower lysine, aspartic acid, threonine, glutamic acid, and methionine levels compared to the infants fed the two formulas. We conclude that the addition of LCP to preterm infant formula did not affect protein absorption or plasma amino acid profile. The formulas did not mimic fully the amino acid profile of preterm infants fed enriched human milk.