CAN WE IGNORE THE DIFFERENCE IN PUFA COMPOSITION IN BREAST MILK AMONG MOTHERS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WHEN THE COMPOSITION OF FORMULA FOR LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS IS CONSIDERED?

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32 N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and N-6 PUFAs, such as arachidonic acid (AA), are known to play an important role in neurological development and growth, respectively, in the early period of life. On the other hand, the differences in fatty acid composition in breast milks among mothers of different countries are well documented. To examine the effect of DHA and AA supplementation to formula for low birth weight infants, which has more similar AA/DHA ratio to those of Japanese mothers in comparison to those of Europeans, on the tissue levels of these fatty acids in Japanese low birth weight infants, we performed this study. Thirty six newborn babies who weighed less than 2,500g (588-1900g; mean 1280g) were divided into 4 groups according to the following diets: containing linoleic acid 3.1g and α-linolenic acid 0.3g/100g powder (A group; n=10), containing linoleic acid 3.1g, α-linolenic acid 0.4g, AA 45mg and DHA 100mg/100g powder (B group; n=10), feeding more than 75% of breast milk (BF group; n=8), feeding less than 75% of both breast milk and conventional formula for low birth weight infants with no AA and DHA fortification (MF group; n=8). No significant difference in their gestational ages and birth weights among 4 groups. Fatty acid compositions in total fat of red blood cell membranes were measured by gas chromatography before feeding and from 30 to 50 days of their ages. The levels of AA and DA in red blood cell membranes after feeding the formula in B group were comparable to those in BF and MF group, while the levels of AA and DHA in A group were significantly (p<0.01) lower than those in BF and MF group. In order to increase the levels of AA and DHA in red blood cell membranes up to those of breast-fed babies, the comparable amounts of AA and DHA to those in Japanese mothers' breast milk which AA/DHA ratio is much lower than that of breast milk in European countries' mothers should be administered. And if PUFA composition of breast milk is the best for low birth weight infants, a formula, of which PUFA composition is similar to those of mothers' in the regions of resembling food culture, may be better for infants of the region.