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Dietary DHA but not ARA influences CNS fatty acid status in baboon neonates
Author(s) -
Hsieh Andrea T.,
Brenna J Thomas
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a321-c
Subject(s) - baboon , docosahexaenoic acid , arachidonic acid , putamen , endocrinology , medicine , central nervous system , globus pallidus , biology , physiology , polyunsaturated fatty acid , fatty acid , biochemistry , basal ganglia , enzyme
Background. The influence of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) on infant CNS composition has implications for neural development, including vision, cognition, and motor function. We evaluated CNS tissue response of baboon neonates with concentration and duration of DHA/ARA consumption. Methods. Data from 3 different studies of DHA/ARA‐containing formulas or breastfeeding were analyzed together. Neonates (n=43) were born spontaneously at term or preterm by C‐section. CNS fatty acids were analyzed at 4 and 12 weeks postpartum for term baboons and 7.5 weeks for preterm neonates, and diet concentrations of DHA‐ARA (%, w/w) were none (0,0), moderate, (0.3, 0.6), or high (>0.6, 0.67 or 1.2). Plots and regression analysis was performed for 8 CNS regions and retina. Results. CNS DHA was 5–10% greater in neonates consuming DHA and at the higher end for cortex. Cortex DHA increased with postpartum age, but globus pallidus, putamen, amygdala, and superior and inferior colliculus decreased; retina DHA dropped mildly. CNS ARA was unaffected by dietary ARA and dropped in all structures with age. Conclusions. Dietary DHA supports greater CNS DHA and maintenance of cortex DHA concentration with feeding duration. Regardless of dietary supply, ARA concentrations in the CNS decline postnatally. Funding: NIH DK07158.