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Noninvasive characterization of neonatal adipose tissue by 13 C magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Thomas E. L.,
Hanrahan J. D.,
AlaKorpela M.,
Jenkinson G.,
Azzopardi D.,
Iles R. A.,
Bell J. D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/s11745-997-0082-4
Subject(s) - adipose tissue , polyunsaturated fatty acid , medicine , endocrinology , gestational age , gestation , clinical chemistry , lipidology , composition (language) , polyunsaturated fat , pregnancy , fatty acid , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics , linguistics , philosophy
In vivo 13 C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was applied noninvasively to analyze the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue in 21 full‐term newborn infants and 6 mothers. In order to assess the effects of gestational and postnatal age on adipose tissue composition, we studied preterm infants at birth, term infants at the ages of 6 wk and at 6 mon. We also investigated the influence of maternal diet on infant adipose tissue composition by studying the breast‐fed infants of women who maintained either an omnivore or a vegan diet. Significant differences were observed in adipose tissue composition of neonates compared with their mothers. Neonates had more saturated and less unsaturated fatty acids than their mothers ( P <0.01). We also observed changes in adipose tissue composition with maturity. From birth to 6 wk of age 13 C MR spectra showed a significant increase in the amount of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids ( P <0.01). Similarly, differences were seen as a result of gestational age. Preterm infants had relatively fewer unsaturated fatty acids than full‐term infants. A greater proportion of these unsaturated fatty acids were polyunsaturated. Our results demonstrate that 13 C MRS can be utilized to assess noninvasively neonatal adipose tissue lipid composition and to monitor the effects of developmental changes due to gestational age and oral feeding.