Infant Red Blood Cell Arachidonic to Docosahexaenoic Acid Ratio Inversely Associates with Fat-Free Mass Independent of Breastfeeding Exclusivity.

ABSTRACT: The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased nearly ten times over the last 40 years, influenced by early life nutrients that have persistent effects on life-long metabolism. During the first six months, infants undergo accelerated adipose accumulation, but little is known regarding infant fatty acid status and its relationship to infant body composition. We tested the hypothesis that a low arachidonic to docosahexaenoic acid ratio (AA/DHA) in infant red blood cells (RBCs), a long-term indicator of fatty acid intake, would associate with more infant fat-free mass (FFM) and/or less adipose accumulation over the first 4 months of life. The fatty acid and composition of breastmilk and infant RBCs, as well as the phospholipid composition of infant RBCs, were quantified using targeted and

SUBMITTER: Young BE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9608835 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature