Plasma Fatty Acid Composition during the First Week of Life Following Feeding with Human Milk or Formula

ABSTRACT. Plasma fatty acids were studied in 20 full-term newborn infants fed human milk and in 17 newborn infants of identical characteristics fed an adapted cow's milk formula. Plasma fatty acids were measured in cord blood and at 7–9 days of age. No differences were present at birth but, after a period of feeding, infants receiving breast milk had higher plasma concentrations of stearic acid, di-homo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid, while infants receiving formula had a higher plasma concentration of oleic acid. The importance of these findings in relation to the lipidic structure of the nervous system remains to be determined.