Abstract
The bioequivalence of dietary linolenic acid (LNA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for brain DHA accretion was measured in neonatal baboons at 4-6 wk of age using stable isotope tracers. Neonates consumed a conventional U.S. term-infant formula devoid of long chain polyunsaturates and with an n-6/n-3 ratio of about 10:1. At 4 wk of age, neonates were doses with either 13C LNA or 13C DHA. At 6 wk of age, neonate brain, retina, and other organs were harvested for fatty acid and isotopic analyses. The relative accretion of labeled DHA was 7-fold greater as a percentage of dose for the DHA-dosed animals compared to the LNA-dosed animals. The baboon is an omnivore that regularly consumes meat and insects; its plasma lipid profile responds similarly to humans in response to changes in feeding and living habits. These observations suggest that the baboon is a suitable model for human unsaturated fatty acid studies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | S347-S350 |
Journal | Lipids |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Cell Biology