Egg yolk as a source fatty acids in infant

of long-chain

Artemis

Salem,

P Simopoulos

ABSTRACI’ of egg

from

hens

docosahexaenoic

acid

more

oleic

acid

we compare

fed

four

l8:2w6)

acid

and

or flax eggs.

Two

may

an adequate

amount

provide

for a preterm provides

neonate.

250

eggs.

With

proper

22:6w3)

and

(LNA,

18:3w3)

acid grams

ofDHA acids.

manipulation

of the

KEY

WORDS

fatty

acids,

yolks,

infant

milk

This

formula,

than

egg yolk acid

at age 1 mo

amount

can

be

1 yolk of flax of supermarket

hens’

diets,

eggs

to that

could

of Greek

feeding

the

effects

high

in

18:2w6

arachidonic

milk,

preterm

acid,

w3

neonate,

egg

studies we showed that the w3 fatty acid range-fed Greek chickens was considerably fatty acid content reported in eggs by the

ofAgriculture In fact, the

eggs was

w3 to w6 fatty Crawford

(3)

content higher US Dc-

and our own analysis ofUS supermarket ratio of w6 to w3 fatty acids (6:w3)

I .3 and that of the supermarket Katan (2) showed that there

and

acids

in cultured

showed

that

than

animals

fatty acids in their carcass another study we compared

egg was 19.9. is a lower ratio of

in wild

in the

for

fish.

duced

and

wild

have

than do domesticated the a-linolenic acid

agricultural

the amount

meat

that

we eat.

indicating

DHA

that fatty

practices

of w3 fatty acids Most

important,

infant

families,

whereas

In newborn been

correlated

2w6)

and

low

acids

more

w3

animals. In (LNA, 18:3w3)

have

formula

systematically

in the plants,

however,

re-

eggs, fish, and been the studies

have

is devoid

(LCPUFAs),

human rhesus with

a low

is essential

that

preterm

deficits

in visual

normal

18:3w3

have

desaturation are inefficient

aggravates fed diets

prenatal

and

DHA

early

content

of newborn deficient

when

marine DHA.

this

during

development

function

satisfy

l8:2w6 primates

phospholipid

not

infants

stores

at

fed human

responses,

requirement

milk

rod milk

show

or formula acid to elicit

suggesting

whereas

and

of DHA

oil containing eicosapentaenoic LNA supplementation failed

rod electroretinographic not

high

concentrations at age 12 wk (6, 8). and Uauy et al (10) suggested that

who

with and

with Nonhuman

plasma

for the

neonates

supplemented (EPA, 20:5w3)

that

marine-oil

LNA supple-

function similar to that found in the (10). These studies indicate that the

steps necessary in humans,

of long-chain

including

milk

monkeys a diet

in LNA

contains

both

impaired

visual

that

and

docosahexaenoic (6-8). Because

acid (DHA, l8:2w6 competes

Am J C/in Nutr

l992;55:41

both

that and

is high

with

(5). development

in linoleic

decreased

w3

acid

accretion

has (LA,

18:

rates

of

22:6UI3) in the developing brain with 18:3w3 for -6 desaturation

1-4. Printed

in USA.

© 1992 American

Society

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DHA

foods

breast amined

for the synthesis suggesting that

from

and

marine

source (12)

oil and

of DHA investigated

ofDHA from LNA DHA is a required

concluded

that

parable

with

Attempts

weaning

that

found

in human

been

made

cholesterol

and

interested w3 fatty

because

such

to lower

acids

to supplement for adults,

available

the chickens

were

From The Center

have

pressure composition

formula,

particularly

capacity to elongate We found two types

eggs the

elderly

been

eggs that shown

fish meal

who

are rich in not to raise

(1 3). We were therefore of eggs enriched in

as a possible

people

for Genetics,

replace

amounts of foods of LCPUFAs com-

as a weaning

and desaturate ofw3-enriched given

cannot

con(1 1). of

milk.

in markets

infant

foods

to produce

blood

in investigating

oil was

These investigators exbaby foods and concluded

unphysiologic the amounts

have

or DHA

egg-yolk

for infant formulas the DHA content

milk as sources of LCPUFAs. egg yolk and fresh and canned

infants would have to eat even then might not reach

polyun-

the w6 and

past,

as a possible and Gibson

weaning

I

saturated

in

almost undetectable by Liu et al (9)

EPA

Similarly,

content ofwild purslane with that ofspinach and other cultivated plants and found that purslane was much richer in LNA: 400 vs 89 mg/lOO g for spinach (4). These studies indicate that industrialization

low

birth and Studies

sidered Jackson

Vliet

and

acids.

nutrient.

Introduction

Greek van

formula

fatty

life had

In the

partment eggs (1).

artificial

mentation sustained infants fed human

nutrition

In previous in eggs from than the

ofan

of low-w3

postnatal

does

1-4. acid,

breast

less un-

>

similar

Docosahexaenoic infant

eggs

arachidonic

of a Greek egg (0.94), eggs (1 .4), or 8.3 yolks

be produced with fatty acid composition eggs. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;55:41

(7)the of

Greek

ofGreek

and

of breast

w3 fatty

1 yolk fish-meal
3 mo of age. Because in the Greek and other

in infant

can in the

could

of human

(20:

have

(26)

formulas

content

g/L but in the first few months infants 750 mL of human milk Fomon

amount

2-

for w3 fatty

adjusted

that

to

neonates

be easily

The average

in

The additional

requirements

centration

respect

different found

should not be a are in the lower

g protein/d.

2-3

g protein

amount

egg yolk selected the

0.34-0.51

(the

egg

vitamins,

4

on it(25).

content.

would

Greek

containing

I 1 g/L

32 g/L and have thrived

egg yolk

provides

formulas

from

One

fatty acids,

cell

of long-

with

with

if necessary.

(20:2w6,

2). Therefore

ranging

acids and an additional

significant show

milk)to

milk,

are given

3 g Greek

to

and red blood data

in human

neonates

LCPUFAs.

range

(20-

of w3 LCPUFAs

found

of an egg yolk.

the essential

de-

estimated

Our

mg

contain

the

or plasma

highly

not

4 g protein provided by one Greek problem, provided that the formulas

or in infants

been

in plasma

ofrod

contains

cell

at birth has

22:6w3)

yolk

red

found

fatty acid status

rates

does

as the weight

to providing

of protein

human

505.1

250.0

less

by determining

of DHA

22:4w6,

w3 fatty

the

been

accretion

amount

yolk

20:4w6,

g Greek

intrauterine w3 requirement

ofDHA

have

is to determine

the

the indices

1 g of Greek

(3, 17),

receiving

neonates

approach

to maintain

This

diet

formula

in addition

amounts

in poly-

mL

23). 25 g was taken

and minerals ( 1 1 ). Full-term

reflects

richer

are also

the

concentration

fed human

at present

One

to match

necessary

phospholipid

were

is the modern

of preterm

is to estimate

the amount

diets

increases

milk

yolk,

milk6

acids/794

7.1 (177.5) 10.6 (265.0)

reference

Infant

et

milk.

ways.

necessary

Another

diet

mother’s

than

infants

requirements

in various

to a mother’s

Human mgfazty

of this calculation,

milk

Harris

eggs

egg yolk

per day (from

human (18).

Greek

3.4 (85.0) 6.3 (157.5)

intake

diet

earlier

mother’s

acid/g

For the purpose

In general,

maternal

Because

(PUFAs)

that

their

794 mL mean

in parentheses.

DHA milk.

because

acids

it may be surmised from

by the

of her and

1 mo);

w3 LCPUFAs.

adding

content diet

aged

yolk given

is influenced

al (19) showed

PUFA

(infant

fatty acid/egg

Flax eggs

6.0 (150.0) 7.1 (177.5)

7.5 (187.5)t 1.2 (30.0)

t Milligram

are

413

FEEDING

w6 and w3 fatty acid concentrations

(LC)

mgfaiiy

6

INFANT

2

Long-chain

Sum Sum

IN

References 1. Simopoulos AP, Salem N Jr. n-3 Fatty acids in eggs from rangefed Greek chickens. N EngI J Med 1989;32 1: 14 12(letter). 2. van Vliet 1, Katan MB. Lower ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids in cultured than in wild fish. Am J Clin Nutr 1990;5 1:1-2.

SIMOPOULOS

414 3. Crawford

MA. Fatty acid ratios in free-living and domestic animals. 1968;l :1329-33. 4. Simopoulos AP, Salem N Jr. Pursiane: a terrestrial source of omega3 fatty acids. N Engl J Med l986;315:833(letter). Lancet

5.

Crawford MA, Sinclair AJ, Msuya PM, Munhambo A. Structural lipids and their polyenoic constituents in human milk. In: Galli C, Jacini 0, Pecile A, eds. Dietary lipids and postnatal development. New York: Raven Press, 1973:41-56.

6. Neuringer M, Connor WE, Van Petten C, Barstad L Dietary omega3 fatty acid deficiency and visual loss in infant rhesus monkeys. J Gin Invest 1984;73:272-6. 7. Sanders TAB, Naismith DJ. The effect of altering the linoleic a-linolenic acid ratio in the maternal diet on foetal brain lipids. Proc Nutr Soc 1980;39:80A(abstr). 8. Neuringer M, Connor W, Lin D, Barsted L, Luck S. Biochemical and functional effects of prenatal and postnatal omega-3 fatty acid deficiency on retina and brain in rhesus monkeys. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1986;83:402l-5. 9. Liu C-CF. Carlson SE, Rhodes P0, Rao VS, Meydrech EF. Increase in plasma phospholipid docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids as a reflection of their intake and mode of administration. Pediatr Res l987;22:292-6. 10. Uauy RD. Birch DO, Birch EE, Tyson JE, Hoffman DR. Effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on retinal function of very-low-birthweight neonates. Pediatr Res 1990;28:485-92. 1 1. Gandinin MI, Chappell JE. Long chain polyenoic essential fatty acids in human milk: are they ofbenefit to the newborn? In: Schaub J, ed. Composition and physiological properties of human milk. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers, 1985:213-22. 12. Jackson KA, Gibson RA. Weaning foods cannot replace breast milk as sources oflong-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Am J Clin Nutr l989;50:980-2. 13. Oh SY, Ryue J, Hsieh C-H, Bell DE. Eggs enriched in w-3 fatty acids and alterations in lipid concentrations in plasma and lipoproteins and in blood pressure. Am J Gin Nutr 199 l;54:689-95.

14. de Oomez

Dumm

INT, Brenner

pha-linolenic, linoleic, and stearic Lipids 1975;10:315-7.

RR. Oxidative desaturation of alacids by human liver microsomes.

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SALEM

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change the composition

of human

milk? Am J Gin Nutr

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