Maternal dietary DHA supplementation to improve inflammatory outcomes in the preterm infant

Abstract

Dietary DHA (22:6n-3) is a long-chain PUFA that has provocative effects on inflammatory signal events that could potentially affect preterm infant health. It is well known that the essential fatty acid of the (n-3) series; α-linolenic acid (18:3n:3) can be desaturated and elongated in the liver endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisome to produce the 22-carbon DHA. Nevertheless, concern exists as to the efficiency of this mechanism in providing the preterm infant with adequate DHA. Activity of the δ-6-desaturase and the δ-5-desaturase necessary for DHA synthesis is decreased by protein deprivation. The combined effects of suboptimal intake of both DHA and protein in the preterm infants could have substantial clinical consequences.

Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosure: C. J. Valentine, no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

The pathway of the biosynthesis of DHA and inhibitory effects that the preterm diet and steroids could have on the ability to internally synthesize adequate DHA. DGLA, di-homo γ-linolenic acid; DPA, docosapentaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; ETA, eicosatetraenoic acid; GLA, γ-linolenic acid; PGs, prostaglandins; SA. Adapted from Reference 90 with permission.

Figure 2

The incorporation of DHA into the phospholipid membrane has many potential enhanced clinical consequences for the preterm infant. NFκB, nuclear factor κB.