Sialic
acid in breast milk and infant formula food.
[Article in German]
Heine W, Wutzke KD, Radke M.
Universitats-Kinderklinik Rostock.
OBJECTIVE: Sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid, NANA) is an essential
componentof mucins, glycoproteins and gangliosides and therefore important
for the function of cell membranes, membrane receptors and the normal
development of the brain. The capacity of the metabolic pathway for
the synthesis of sialic acid from glucose and other carbohydrate sources
in preterm infants and term-born neonates is currently unknown. METHODS:
In the present study the overall nutritional sialic acid supply of
infants was analysed by means of HPLC-based determination of sialic
acid concentrations in a total of 51 human milk samples obtained from
nursing mothers at different stages of lactation. The data were compared
with 3 commercial preterm infant formulas, 7 adapted infant formulas,
11 partially adapted infant formulas, 4 follow-up and 2 soy-based
formulas.
RESULTS: The sialic acid concentration in colostrum and transitory
human milk was 1300 322 mg/l. After the 10th day of lactation the
concentration dropped to 983 455 mg/l (p < 0.01). Preterm infant
formulas contained 197 31,adapted formulas 190 31, partially adapted
formulas 100 33, follow-up formulas 100 33 and soy-based formulas
34 9 mg sialic acid/l, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Formula-fed infants obtain less than 20% of the amount
of sialic acid supplied if breast-fed. A sufficient sialic acid supply
may be essential in very-low-birth-weight infants and neonates at
risk for the normal development of brain function.
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