The effect of iron fortification on the fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocyte membranes in primary school children with and without iron-deficiency

Date
1994
Authors
Smuts, C. M.
Tichelaar, H. Y.
Van Jaarsveld, P. J.
Badenhorst, C. J.
Kruger, M.
Laubscher, R.
Mansvelt, E. P. G.
Benade, A. J. S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
An intervention study was designed to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) status of children aged 6-11 years before and after iron fortification. Iron deficient (ID) and matched controls without ID (n = 30) were selected. All children received soup (160 mL) fortified with 20 mg iron and 100 mg vitamin C for 15 weeks on school days. Measurements before and after intervention included dietary intake, haematological and iron status and FA composition of plasma and erythrocyte membranes (EMBs). The prevalence of low plasma ferritin concentration and transferrin saturation decreased in the ID children by 40% and 56%, respectively, with intervention. Plasma FAs reflected dietary FA intake. In comparison with controls, the ID group presented with increased percentage total saturated FAs (SFAs; p = 0.0002) in their EMB phosphatidylcholine (PC) and reduced percentage total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs; p = 0.0037) before intervention. Lower total n-3 FAs (p = 0.0070) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; p = 0.0034), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; p = 0.0048) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; p = 0.0058) were observed in the ID group. The EMB phosphatidylethanolamine (PEA) of the ID children presented with lower percentages of α-linolenic acid (ALA; p = 0.0001), EPA (p = 0.0051) and DHA (p = 0.0084) compared to controls before intervention. Iron intervention was associated with an increase (p < 0.05) in the percentage of n-3 FAs in the EMB-PC and -PEA of the ID group to percentages comparable to that in the control group. It appears that iron status can influence FA metabolism of specific n-3 FAs in the EMBs of young children.
Description
Keywords
fatty acid, ferritin, icosanoid, iron, polyunsaturated fatty acid, transferrin, article, cell membrane, chemical composition, controlled study, diet supplementation, dietary intake, erythrocyte membrane, fat intake, fatty acid metabolism, female, human, human cell, iron deficiency, major clinical study, male, priority journal, school child, Child, Diet, Erythrocyte Membrane, Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Female, Hemoglobins, Human, Iron, Male, Membrane Lipids, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Transferrin, Pisum sativum
Citation
Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
51
4