Administration of an Intravenous Fat Emulsion Enriched with Medium-Chain Triglyceride/ω-3 Fatty Acids is Beneficial Towards Anti-Inflammatory Related Fatty Acid Profile in Preterm Neonates: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Intravenous administration of pure soybean oil emulsions high in linoleic acid may lead to inflammation and lipid peroxidation in preterm neonates. We aimed to investigate the effects of a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)/ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-enriched intravenous fat emulsion (IVFE) on plasma fatty acid (FA) profile and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in preterm neonates. In this double-blind randomized study, 92 preterm neonates (gestational age < 32 weeks, birth weight < 1500 g) were assigned to receive either MCT/ω-3 PUFA-enriched IVFE (Intervention Group) or soybean oil-based IVFE (Control Group). Levels of FAs were measured at baseline (day 0) and day 15 of parenteral nutrition with gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Serum IL-6 was measured with sandwich ELISA in 59 neonates. Plasma FAs changed significantly over time; the MCT/ω-3 PUFA-IVFE group showed higher ω-3 PUFAs (p = 0.031), eicosapentaenoic acid (p = 0.000), and oleic acid (p = 0.003), and lower ω-6/ω-3 PUFAs ratio (p = 0.001) and ω-6 PUFAs (p = 0.023) compared to control group. Linoleic acid was higher in the soybean oil (SO)-based IVFE arm compared to the MCT/ω-3 PUFAs-IVFE arm (p = 0.006). Both fat emulsion types decreased IL-6 compared to baseline, but changes were insignificant between groups. Administration of MCT/ω-3 PUFA-enriched IVFE in preterm neonates is beneficial in changing the FA profile consistent with attenuated inflammatory response.

Investigation of multiple factors which may contribute to vitamin D levels of bedridden pregnant women and their preterm neonates.

OBJECTIVE: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) is the marker, which indicates vitamin D levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible factors, which contribute to serum 25-OH-D levels in bedridden mothers and their preterm neonates. METHODS: Twenty-six preterm neonates born during the period of 24-33 weeks of gestational age and 20 mothers (who experienced pregnancy complications) were recruited to the study. RESULTS: Five major results were obtained. (i) The 25-OH-D serum levels for preterm neonates and their mothers were found to possess strong correlation (ii) and both differed significantly in comparison with the optimal levels. (iii) An increase of mothers' 25-OH-D serum levels was associated with an increased possibility that the neonates would be measured to have normal 25-OH-D levels. (iv) Sex was not a key factor to neonates' 25-OH-D levels. (v) No correlation was found between mothers' 25-OH-D levels and their vitamin D3 supplement (400 IU/d during pregnancy). CONCLUSIONS: Due to insufficient exposure to sunlight and a diet not enriched with vitamin D, bedridden pregnant women suffer from vitamin D deficiency and pregnancy complications lead often to birth of preterm neonates with the same deficiency. Mothers should increase the total amount of vitamin D intake (food and supplement).

Evaluation of Barley's Beta-glucan Food Fortification through Investigation of Intestinal Permeability in Healthy Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal permeability is an index of the adequate function of the intestinal barrier and its modification is associated with intestinal diseases. The aim of the study is to investigate the hypothesis that barley's beta-glucan can inhibit the alteration of intestinal permeability and maintain intestinal integrity after a period of consumption of a carbohydrate snack (cake) rich in sugars. METHODS AND DESIGN: Volunteers participated in a placebo-controlled intervention study for 1 month. In this double-blind methodology, they were randomly assigned to (1) the intervention group (daily consumption of one portion of cake fortified with barley's beta-glucan) or (2) the placebo group (daily consumption of the same cake without the enrichment). Intestinal permeability was assessed using the lactulose/mannitol test. SETTING: Athens, Greece. SUBJECTS: Twenty-three healthy volunteers (age > 40 years). RESULTS: Intestinal permeability did not differ between the 2 groups, both at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. In addition, the intestinal permeability was not significantly modified at the end of the intervention in each group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the lactulose/mannitol test for the intervention and placebo groups were comparable. For healthy adults, the daily consumption of a simple cake (placebo) and the consumption of the cake fortified with barley's beta-glucan resulted in similar impact for intestinal permeability; thus, beta-glucans did not exert a protective role in intestinal permeability of healthy adults.