Addition of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to formula for very low birth weight infants.

Thirty-four premature infants who were appropriate for gestational age and weighing less than 1500 g at birth were fed "preemie" SMA-24 formula, "preemie" SMA-24 formula manufactured to contain C20 and C22 omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids (LCPE-SMA), or expressed milk (EBM). Blood samples were drawn from a small arm vein during the first week of life and after 28 days of feeding. The fatty acid content of plasma phospholipids was determined. Infants fed SMA-24 had a high content of 18:2 omega 6 in plasma phospholipids. Feeding LCPE-SMA normalized plasma phospholipid levels of C20 and C22 omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids to be similar to levels of C20 and C22 omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids found in infants fed EBM, and significantly higher than characteristic levels for infants fed SMA-24. Feeding LCPE-SMA or EBM results in a balanced incorporation of C20 and C22 omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids into phospholipids derived from the liver or perhaps the small intestine.