Perfil de ácidos grasos a los dos meses de vida en niños alimentados con lactancia materna frente a varias fórmulas artificiales disponibles comercialmente en España / The influence of human milk and various artificial formulae commercially available in Spain on the fatty acid status of infants in the first two months of life

Objetivo: Valorar los cambios en la composición de ácidos grasos en fosfolípidos de membrana del hematíe, en niños alimentados mediante lactancia materna frente a diferentes fórmulas lácteas artificiales (convencional, leche suplementada con -3, leche suplementada con -3 y -6 y leche suplementada con nucleótidos). Material y métodos: Se estudiaron 37 niños sanos, nacidos a término. Los niños se repartieron en 5 grupos, atendiendo a los diferentes tipos de lactancia. A los 7 y 60 días de vida se obtuvo la medida de 4 parámetros antropométricos: peso, talla, perímetro cefálico y perímetro braquial y se analizó la composición en ácidos grasos de fosfatidilcolina y fosfatidiletanolamina, en la membrana del hematíe. Resultados: Las variables antropométricas estudiadas no mostraron diferencia alguna. La concentración de ácido araquidónico (C20:4 -6) a los 60 días de vida en fosfatidilcolina fue inferior en las fórmulas artificiales no suplementadas con ácidos grasos -6, en relación a la leche materna (4,03, 3,68 y 5,15 frente a 7,20/100 g de ácidos grasos). La concentración de ácido docosahexaenoico (C22:6 -3), en fosfatidilcolina y fosfatidiletanolamina fue claramente inferior en el grupo de niños alimentados con leche artificial no suplementada con ácidos grasos -3, en relación a la leche materna (fosfatidilcolina, 0,72 frente a 2,82/100 g de ácidos grasos; fosfatidiletanolamina, 5,15 frente a 7,73/100 g de ácidos grasos). Conclusiones: Este estudio, realizado con todas las fórmulas artificiales con posible influencia en el perfil de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados de cadena larga (LCP) existentes en el mercado español, pone de manifiesto la diferente riqueza en ciertos ácidos grasos, en los fosfolípidos de la membrana del hematíe, de los niños alimentados con lactancia materna y las diferentes fórmulas lácteas. Este hecho refleja que los niveles de estos ácidos grasos son en gran parte dependientes de la oferta dietética de los mismos (AU)

[The influence of human milk and various artificial formulae commercially available in Spain on the fatty acid status of infants in the first two months of life]. / Perfil de ácidos grasos a los dos meses de vida en niños alimentados con lactancia materna frente a varias fórmulas artificiales disponibles comercialmente en España.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in the fatty acid composition of red blood cell phospholipids in breast-fed infants compared with those in infants fed with different formulas (conventional, omega -6-enriched formula, omega -6- and omega -3-enriched formula and nucleotide-enriched formula). METHODS: Thirty-seven healthy term infants were randomly assigned to one of five different feeding groups. Weight, length, head circumference, and arm circumference were assessed at 7 and 60 days of age. The fatty acid composition of the infants' red blood cell phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were analyzed at these ages. RESULTS: The anthropometric variables studied showed no changes among the different groups. At 60 days old, arachidonic acid concentration (20:4 omega -6) was lower in non-omega -6 enriched formula-fed groups compared with that in the breast-milk fed group (4.03, 3.68 and 5.15 vs 7.20 g/100 g of fatty acids). Docosahexaenoic acid concentration (22:6omega -3) in both PC and PE clearly decreased in the non-omega -3 formula-fed groups compared with that in the breast-milk fed group (PC: 0.72 vs 2.82 g/100 g of fatty acids and PE: 5.15 vs 7.73 g/100 g of fatty acids). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates differences in the fatty acid composition of red blood cell phospholipids between breast-milk fed infants and those fed with any of the artificial formulas available on the Spanish market. These data provide evidence of the influence of diet on certain essential fatty acids in the body.

[Cardiovascular risk in the pediatric population. Plasma fatty acid levels]. / Población pediátrica de riesgo cardiovascular. Valoración de los ácidos grasos plasmáticos.

Thirty-seven offspring of patients who had acute myocardial infarctions were investigated. Serum fatty acids of the whole plasma lipids were evaluated within the frame of a full biochemical assessment. Baseline values were obtained and the children were subsequently put on appropriate diets and advised to cut-out smoking and alcohol. The same values were obtained following one year on such a regimen. Results were compared with those found in a control group. Baseline palmitoleic and dihomogammalinolenic acid serum levels were significantly raised in the study group. Values of palmitoleic, but not of dihomogammalinolenic acid, had returned to normal by the reassessment one year later.

[Anemia and depletion of iron reserves in healthy 12-month-old infants]. / Anemia y deplección de depósitos de hierro en lactantes sanos de 12 meses de edad.

A prospective study was made which included 287 infants, 12 months of age and patients of two Vizcaya Health Centers, in order to determine the prevalence of anemia and/or depletion of iron stores. The study design included somatometry and a review of the clinical records, dietary habits and the socio-economic status of the family. Laboratory tests included: hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, number of erythrocytes, serum iron, transferrin, iron saturation percentage and serum ferritin. Anemia was present in 9.3% of these children and 6.9% had iron-deficiency anemia. Depletion of iron stores was found in 12.4%. Prematurity, socio-economic status, infants fed low-iron milk, early introduction of cow's milk and the weight at 12 months were all variables that correlated significantly with the anemic or iron deficient states. However, the number of infections during the first year of life did not show a significant correlation. A question about the necessity of routine screening is raised and recommendation is made for iron supplementation in the infants in the high risk group.

[Nutritional study of children with oncologic diseases]. / Estudio nutricional en niños oncológicos.

From October 1989 to June 1990 we have evaluated at diagnosis and after six months of treatment the nutritional status of 21 oncologic patients younger than 14 years. At diagnosis, 14% of the children showed slight malnutrition on anthropometric evaluation, although there were biochemical data of protein malnutrition in 47% of the cases. Children with abnormal anthropometric measurements and those with a high risk of becoming malnourished (infants with advanced abdominal diseases) were given dietary supplements. In the follow-up evaluation, 90% of the patients showed normal somatic indexes and 76% showed recuperation in their protein values. The recovery of the nutritional status was most important in the group of patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

[Ornithine-transcarbamylase deficiency: prognostic difficulties]. / El déficit en ornitin-transcarbamilasa: dificultades pronósticas.

We report six cases of Ornithine-transcarbamylase deficiency. Unlike some classical descriptions but in accordance with recent reports, sex had no determinant influence on the outcome.