[Effect of the administration of corn oil on the composition of fatty acids of plasma phospholipids in normal and malnourished infants fed with cow's milk].

The effect of corn oil diet administration on the essential fatty acids (EFAs) profiles was evaluated in plasma phospholipids from normal and malnourished cow's milk fed infants nursing infants. A control group of only breast-fed was also selected for this study. The fatty acid composition was determined by gas-liquid chromatography and used as biochemical variable for evaluating EFA status. A fall in the proportion of fatty acids concomitant with an increase in the saturated fatty acids, consistent with a pattern of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) was observed in the cow's milk fed infants, either normal or malnourished (Table 2). The corn oil administration was capable of restoring the fatty acid profile to normal values, similar to the values of the control group of breast-fed infants, even in malnourished infants, although during the 15 days test they did not correct their clinical syndrome of malnutrition (Table 3). Calculation of the product-precursor of the linoleic acid provided evidence for the positive effect of the corn oil administration.