Description
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This book presents research projects which aimed to evaluate the effects of linoleic acid (LA) and - linolenic acid (ALA) in infant milks on infant long- chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) status, growth and development. The first study is a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials that aimed to evaluate the effect of modifying ALA and LA in the milk diet of term and preterm infants on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status, growth and developmental outcomes. Five RCTs involving term infants and 3 RCTs involving preterm infants were included in the systematic review. The findings suggest that ALA supplemented diets improve the DHA status of infants. The second study is a cross-sectional study which aimed to determine the effect of drinking cow's milk as the main milk drink on plasma and erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA), DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) concentrations. The findings suggest that toddlers drinking cow's milk (low LA) willhave a better EPA and n-3 DPA status than infants drinking formula (high LA) and that early feeding has an effect on DHA status in the second year of life.
