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

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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-.gamma.-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.