NEW SOURCE OF ARACHIDONIC ACID FOR INFANT FORMULA

在生命的第一年，一个喂养良好的婴儿可能是其体重的三倍。 因此，这是花生四烯酸(ARA)的需求高峰期， 一种长链多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)，是一种主要的结构 外周和器官组织中的脂质。这自然会提供给 母乳中的婴儿由于ARA是其中含量最丰富的C20-PUFA。 然而，目前可用的商业婴儿配方奶粉没有得到补充 与ARA或任何其他重要的长链多不饱和脂肪酸。最近的研究使用 补充鱼油为早产儿配方奶粉提供必需品 大脑和视网膜中的omega-3多不饱和脂肪酸(特别是二十二碳六烯酸) 发展导致血浆红血球显著降低 细胞ARA。因此，以ARA为基础的油的共同补充可以是 在这种情况下是有根据的。 本研究的目标是开发一种商品婴儿添加剂。 将提供与人类体内ARA和DHA水平相当的配方 母乳。我们已经分离出一种产生ARA的微生物 可以使用传统的发酵技术进行种植。在第一阶段，我们 应优化该微生物的生产，并确定其经济价值 用这种方法生产鱼油/ARA油补充剂的可行性 婴儿配方奶粉。在第二阶段，我们将准备和测试各种 含有添加剂的配方。

During the first year of life, a well fed infant may triple its body mass. Consequently, this is a period of peak demand for arachidonic acid (ARA), a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that is a major structural lipid in peripheral and organ tissues. This is naturally provided to the infant in mother's milk since ARA is the most abundant C20-PUFA therein. However, commercial infant formulas available today are not supplemented with ARA or any other important long chain PUFAs. Recent studies using fish oil supplementation of pre-term infant formula to provide essential omega-3 PUFAs (specifically docosahexaenoic acid) for brain and retina development have resulted in a significant depression of plasma red blood cell ARA. Thus, a co-supplementation with an ARA-based oil may be warranted in this case. The goal of this research is to develop an additive for commercial infant formulas which will provide ARA and DHA levels equivalent to those in human breast milk. We have already isolated an ARA-producing microorganism which can be grown using conventional fermentation technologies. In Phase I, we shall optimize the production of this organism and determine the economic feasibility of using this approach to produce a fish oil/ARA oil supplement for infant formula. During Phase II, we shall prepare and test various formulas containing the additive.