Table 2.
Plasma fatty acid profile (mol%) at birth in term and preterm infants
| Term infants | Preterm infants | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 339) | All (n = 709) | Without GD or PE in mothers (n = 482) | |
| Palmitic acid (C16:0) | 30.0 (2.56) | 30.5 (2.25)** | 30.6 (2.29)** |
| Stearic acid (C18:0) | 10.0 (1.62) | 10.7 (1.54)*** | 10.7 (1.53)*** |
| Oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) | 24.8 (2.57) | 27.2 (2.11)*** | 27.3 (2.01)*** |
| Linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) | 10.7 (1.99) | 9.37 (2.14)*** | 9.27 (2.14)*** |
| Alpha Linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) | 0.39 (0.17) | 0.31 (0.12)*** | 0.30 (0.12)*** |
| Arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6) | 10.8 (2.10) | 9.44 (2.12)*** | 9.35 (2.09)*** |
| Eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n-3) | 0.54 (0.32) | 0.52 (0.30)** | 0.48 (0.30)** |
| Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3) | 3.46 (1.09) | 2.56 (0.89)*** | 2.55 (0.88)*** |
| Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) | 41.2 (3.29) | 42.7 (3.20)*** | 42.8 (3.25)*** |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) | 29.9 (2.90) | 32.7 (2.56)*** | 32.8 (2.47)*** |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) | 28.8 (4.39) | 24.7 (5.01)*** | 24.5 (4.96)*** |
| Essential fatty acids (EFAs) | 11.1 (2.03) | 9.71 (2.24)*** | 9.61 (2.24)*** |
| n-6:n-3 PUFAs | 5.17 (1.46) | 5.58 (1.22)*** | 5.51 (1.16)*** |
GD gestational diabetes, PE preeclampsia; SFAs = C14:0 + C16:0 + C18:0; MUFAs = C16:1 n-7 + C18:1 n-9; EFAs = C18:2 n-6 + C18:3 n-3; PUFAs = n-6 PUFAs (C18:2 n-6 + C18:3 n-6 + C20:3 n-6 + C20:4 n-6) + n-3 PUFAs (C18:3 n-3 + C22:5 n-3 + C22:6 n-3)
Values represent mean (SD); **, p < 0.01, ***, p < 0.001 (compared to term infants)