Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical for the normal growth and development of preterm infants. Interest in these compounds rests in their anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical conditions with an inflammatory component such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotising enterocolitis and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352385915300219 |
| _version_ | 1818036474257342464 |
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| author | Naomi H. Fink Carmel T. Collins Robert A. Gibson Maria Makrides Irmeli A. Penttila |
| author_facet | Naomi H. Fink Carmel T. Collins Robert A. Gibson Maria Makrides Irmeli A. Penttila |
| author_sort | Naomi H. Fink |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical for the normal growth and development of preterm infants. Interest in these compounds rests in their anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical conditions with an inflammatory component such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis are risks to the survival of these infants. Dysregulation of inflammatory responses plays a central role in the aetiology of many of these neonatal disorders. There is evidence to suggest that the omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can down-regulate local and systemic inflammation in adults and animal models; however, very little is known about its protective effects in infants, especially preterm infants. Due to their immunological immaturity, preterm infants are particularly sensitive to diseases with an inflammatory aetiology in the early postnatal period. This makes DHA supplementation immediately after birth to combat neonatal inflammation an attractive therapy. Mechanistic data for DHA use in preterm infants are lacking and results from adult and animal studies may not be relevant to this population because of fundamental immune system differences. While there is increasing evidence from randomised controlled trials to support a beneficial effect of DHA for the preterm infant, more evidence is required to establish short and long-term effects of DHA on the immune status of preterm infants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:11:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e62c3b213d0347e1967fc05416b059a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-3859 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:11:31Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism |
| spelling | doaj.art-e62c3b213d0347e1967fc05416b059a12022-12-22T01:58:02ZengElsevierJournal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism2352-38592016-09-015C556010.1016/j.jnim.2016.03.004Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acidNaomi H. Fink0Carmel T. Collins1Robert A. Gibson2Maria Makrides3Irmeli A. Penttila4School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, AustraliaLong-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical for the normal growth and development of preterm infants. Interest in these compounds rests in their anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical conditions with an inflammatory component such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis are risks to the survival of these infants. Dysregulation of inflammatory responses plays a central role in the aetiology of many of these neonatal disorders. There is evidence to suggest that the omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can down-regulate local and systemic inflammation in adults and animal models; however, very little is known about its protective effects in infants, especially preterm infants. Due to their immunological immaturity, preterm infants are particularly sensitive to diseases with an inflammatory aetiology in the early postnatal period. This makes DHA supplementation immediately after birth to combat neonatal inflammation an attractive therapy. Mechanistic data for DHA use in preterm infants are lacking and results from adult and animal studies may not be relevant to this population because of fundamental immune system differences. While there is increasing evidence from randomised controlled trials to support a beneficial effect of DHA for the preterm infant, more evidence is required to establish short and long-term effects of DHA on the immune status of preterm infants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352385915300219Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acidDocosahexaenoic acidPreterm infantInflammationImmunoregulation |
| spellingShingle | Naomi H. Fink Carmel T. Collins Robert A. Gibson Maria Makrides Irmeli A. Penttila Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid Docosahexaenoic acid Preterm infant Inflammation Immunoregulation |
| title | Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid |
| title_full | Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid |
| title_fullStr | Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid |
| title_short | Targeting inflammation in the preterm infant: The role of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid |
| title_sort | targeting inflammation in the preterm infant the role of the omega 3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid |
| topic | Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid Docosahexaenoic acid Preterm infant Inflammation Immunoregulation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352385915300219 |
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