Fatty Acid MetabolismNCT00342303
Activity of Essential Fatty Acid Elongation/Desaturation Pathway During Early Life in Human Infants, In Vivo
An observational study of Fatty Acid Metabolism, run by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at 2 sites in Chile.
Trial summary
We will test the following hypotheses: 1. The activity of the desaturating/elongating enzymes assessed by the in vivo conversion of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids to DHA and AA, respectively, will be related to the duration of gestation and to postnatal age. 2. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Fatty Acid Metabolism
- How many people
- 110 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesChile
- Study dates
- 8 Jun 1993to 13 Jul 2010
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Newborns with birth weights appropriate for their gestational age born at 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks gestation that are recovering from common neonatal morbidity will be recruited to enter the study before 5 days of age. This disease condition will not be life threatening at the time of study.
- The typical disease conditions expected based on the pilot phase of study are infants recovering from asphyxia, infants recovering from transient tachypnea, infants recovering from suspect pneumonia, infants recovering from hyaline membrane disease.
- Hyperbilirubinemia in conjunction with disease condition will not be a reason for exclusion.
- Newborns with birth weights below the tenth percentile of the weight distribution for a given gestational age born at 30-34 and 36-38 weeks gestation.
- Will include infants born at 28 to 40 weeks who are free of major neonatal morbidity and will be recruited to enter the study at 10 days of age.
Who cannot join
- Maternal factors which may affect their fatty acid metabolism of the neonate.
- Vegetarian or vegan diet during pregnancy
- Metabolic disease which may affect essential fatty acid status of the fetus (hyperlipidemia, diabetes)
- Postnatal factors:
- Birth weight inadequate for gestational age (birth weight below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile for gestational age)
- Significant acute neonatal morbidity which interferes with normal lipid metabolism during the study period. Infants who are recovering from common neonatal morbidities that do not have obvious effects on elongase/desaturase activity will not be excluded.
- Feeding other than prescribed for the study.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Chile2 sites
Clinica Presbiteriana Madre Hijo
Santiago
Hospital Luis Tisne
Santiago
About this study
Official title: Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Newborn: Equivalence of Precusors and Mediators in the Synthesis of Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids of the n-6 and n-3 Series
We will test the following hypotheses:
- The activity of the desaturating/elongating enzymes assessed by the in vivo conversion of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids to DHA and AA, respectively, will be related to the duration of gestation and to postnatal age.
- Dietary w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs in human milk or DHA and AA supplemented formula will inhibit the desaturation/elongation of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids demonstrating in vivo inhibition of the metabolic pathway by respective products.
Present evidence suggests that the parent essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic acid (18:2 w-6) and a-linolenic acids (18:3 w-3) are insufficient to fully satisfy EFA nutrition during early life in the human. A possible need for long chain (LC, longer than 18 C chain length) EFAs in the human is suggested by the accretion rates of elongated and desaturated products in the developing fetus; the altered plasma and red cell fatty acid patterns, and the abnormal visual function observed in infants receiving solely the parent EFAs; and by the relatively high concentration of LC EFAs in human milk. Most milk formula, as compared to human milk, are lower in oleic acid, higher in linoleic, have little a-linolenic acid and virtually no LC w-3 or w-6 polyunsaturated FA (LC PUFA). This study will evaluate the capacity of human infants to form w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs from the parent EFAs as affected by developmental stage and dietary EFA supply. The precursors will be labeled with deuterium and the products analyzed by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry GC/MS. The main products of the desaturation / elongation pathway are docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids for the w-3 and w-6 series, respectively. Infants will be fed human milk or formulas with or without supplemental LCPUFAs as part of a study to evaluate the effect of EFAs on CNS functional development. Infants included in this study of the effect of developmental stage on EFA desaturation/elongation will be 2-5 days of age (before any fat is administered enterally or parenterally) and 28, 32, 36 or 40 weeks gestation. In addition, infants born at 28 and 40 weeks gestation will be studied 2 and 6 weeks postnatally after dietary fat has been provided for at least 7 days and energy intake is sufficient to assure growth. To evaluate the effect of dietary EFA on DHA and AA formation we will assess elongation/ desaturation in infants receiving 3 diets: human milk (which contains w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs); cow milk based formula providing 18:2 w-6 and 18:3 w-3 but no LCPUFAs; or formula supplemented with added LCPUFAs (DHA and AA). This study should provide new information on the effects of developmental stage and w-3 and w-6 LCPUFA supply in determining the activity of EFA elongation/desaturation in the human. This knowledge may help in improving early neonatal nutritional practices to assure meeting the EFA needs of the developing CNS.
Read the detailed description
We will test the following hypotheses:
- The activity of the desaturating/elongating enzymes assessed by the in vivo conversion of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids to DHA and AA, respectively, will be related to the duration of gestation and to postnatal age.
- Dietary w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs in human milk or DHA and AA supplemented formula will inhibit the desaturation/elongation of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids demonstrating in vivo inhibition of the metabolic pathway by respective products.
Present evidence suggests that the parent essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic acid (18:2 w-6) and a-linolenic acids (18:3 w-3) are insufficient to fully satisfy EFA nutrition during early life in the human. A possible need for long chain (LC, longer than 18 C chain length) EFAs in the human is suggested by the accretion rates of elongated and desaturated products in the developing fetus; the altered plasma and red cell fatty acid patterns, and the abnormal visual function observed in infants receiving solely the parent EFAs; and by the relatively high concentration of LC EFAs in human milk. Most milk formula, as compared to human milk, are lower in oleic acid, higher in linoleic, have little a-linolenic acid and virtually no LC w-3 or w-6 polyunsaturated FA (LC PUFA). This study will evaluate the capacity of human infants to form w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs from the parent EFAs as affected by developmental stage and dietary EFA supply. The precursors will be labeled with deuterium and the products analyzed by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry GC/MS. The main products of the desaturation / elongation pathway are docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids for the w-3 and w-6 series, respectively. Infants will be fed human milk or formulas with or without supplemental LCPUFAs as part of a study to evaluate the effect of EFAs on CNS functional development. Infants included in this study of the effect of developmental stage on EFA desaturation/elongation will be 2-5 days of age (before any fat is administered enterally or parenterally) and 28, 32, 36 or 40 weeks gestation. In addition, infants born at 28 and 40 weeks gestation will be studied 2 and 6 weeks postnatally after dietary fat has been provided for at least 7 days and energy intake is sufficient to assure growth. To evaluate the effect of dietary EFA on DHA and AA formation we will assess elongation/ desaturation in infants receiving 3 diets: human milk (which contains w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs); cow milk based formula providing 18:2 w-6 and 18:3 w-3 but no LCPUFAs; or formula supplemented with added LCPUFAs (DHA and AA). Also, the relative efficiency of conversion of the 18-C precursors will be compared to the 20-C precursors with respect to their metabolic endpoints. This study should provide new information on the effects of developmental stage and w-3 and w-6 LCPUFA supply in determining the activity of EFA elongation/desaturation in the human. This knowledge may help in improving early neonatal nutritional practices to assure meeting the EFA needs of the developing CNS.
- Conditions
- Fatty Acid Metabolism
- Keywords
- Premature Infants, Fatty Acid Metabolism, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Infant Formula, Gas-chromatography, Mass Spectrometry
- Medical subject headings
- Premature Birth
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Jun 2006 (estimated)
- Study start8 Jun 1993
- Study completion13 Jul 2010
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Fatty Acid MetabolismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00342303
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 999993027
- Other IDs
- OH93-AA-N027
- Status last verified
- 13 Jul 2010
- First submitted
- 19 Jun 2006
- Last updated
- 2 Jul 2017
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Lee AG, East JM, Froud RJ. Are essential fatty acids essential for membrane function? Prog Lipid Res. 1986;25(1-4):41-6. doi: 10.1016/0163-7827(86)90009-3. No abstract available.
PubMed 2962202Glomset JA. Fish, fatty acids, and human health. N Engl J Med. 1985 May 9;312(19):1253-4. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198505093121909. No abstract available.
PubMed 3990716Sprecher H. Biochemistry of essential fatty acids. Prog Lipid Res. 1981;20:13-22. doi: 10.1016/0163-7827(81)90009-6. No abstract available.
PubMed 7342077
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jul 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Newborn: Equivalence of Precusors and Mediators in the Synthesis of Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids of the n-6 and n-3 Series
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00342303
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 999993027
- Conditions
- Fatty Acid Metabolism
- Keywords
- Premature Infants, Fatty Acid Metabolism, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Infant Formula, Gas-chromatography, Mass Spectrometry
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 110 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 8 Jun 1993
- Study completion
- 13 Jul 2010
- First posted
- 21 Jun 2006 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
We will test the following hypotheses:
- The activity of the desaturating/elongating enzymes assessed by the in vivo conversion of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids to DHA and AA, respectively, will be related to the duration of gestation and to postnatal age.
- Dietary w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs in human milk or DHA and AA supplemented formula will inhibit the desaturation/elongation of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids demonstrating in vivo inhibition of the metabolic pathway by respective products.
Present evidence suggests that the parent essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic acid (18:2 w-6) and a-linolenic acids (18:3 w-3) are insufficient to fully satisfy EFA nutrition during early life in the human. A possible need for long chain (LC, longer than 18 C chain length) EFAs in the human is suggested by the accretion rates of elongated and desaturated products in the developing fetus; the altered plasma and red cell fatty acid patterns, and the abnormal visual function observed in infants receiving solely the parent EFAs; and by the relatively high concentration of LC EFAs in human milk. Most milk formula, as compared to human milk, are lower in oleic acid, higher in linoleic, have little a-linolenic acid and virtually no LC w-3 or w-6 polyunsaturated FA (LC PUFA). This study will evaluate the capacity of human infants to form w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs from the parent EFAs as affected by developmental stage and dietary EFA supply. The precursors will be labeled with deuterium and the products analyzed by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry GC/MS. The main products of the desaturation / elongation pathway are docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids for the w-3 and w-6 series, respectively. Infants will be fed human milk or formulas with or without supplemental LCPUFAs as part of a study to evaluate the effect of EFAs on CNS functional development. Infants included in this study of the effect of developmental stage on EFA desaturation/elongation will be 2-5 days of age (before any fat is administered enterally or parenterally) and 28, 32, 36 or 40 weeks gestation. In addition, infants born at 28 and 40 weeks gestation will be studied 2 and 6 weeks postnatally after dietary fat has been provided for at least 7 days and energy intake is sufficient to assure growth. To evaluate the effect of dietary EFA on DHA and AA formation we will assess elongation/ desaturation in infants receiving 3 diets: human milk (which contains w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs); cow milk based formula providing 18:2 w-6 and 18:3 w-3 but no LCPUFAs; or formula supplemented with added LCPUFAs (DHA and AA). This study should provide new information on the effects of developmental stage and w-3 and w-6 LCPUFA supply in determining the activity of EFA elongation/desaturation in the human. This knowledge may help in improving early neonatal nutritional practices to assure meeting the EFA needs of the developing CNS.
Detailed description
We will test the following hypotheses:
- The activity of the desaturating/elongating enzymes assessed by the in vivo conversion of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids to DHA and AA, respectively, will be related to the duration of gestation and to postnatal age.
- Dietary w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs in human milk or DHA and AA supplemented formula will inhibit the desaturation/elongation of deuterated a-linolenic and linoleic acids demonstrating in vivo inhibition of the metabolic pathway by respective products.
Present evidence suggests that the parent essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic acid (18:2 w-6) and a-linolenic acids (18:3 w-3) are insufficient to fully satisfy EFA nutrition during early life in the human. A possible need for long chain (LC, longer than 18 C chain length) EFAs in the human is suggested by the accretion rates of elongated and desaturated products in the developing fetus; the altered plasma and red cell fatty acid patterns, and the abnormal visual function observed in infants receiving solely the parent EFAs; and by the relatively high concentration of LC EFAs in human milk. Most milk formula, as compared to human milk, are lower in oleic acid, higher in linoleic, have little a-linolenic acid and virtually no LC w-3 or w-6 polyunsaturated FA (LC PUFA). This study will evaluate the capacity of human infants to form w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs from the parent EFAs as affected by developmental stage and dietary EFA supply. The precursors will be labeled with deuterium and the products analyzed by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry GC/MS. The main products of the desaturation / elongation pathway are docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids for the w-3 and w-6 series, respectively. Infants will be fed human milk or formulas with or without supplemental LCPUFAs as part of a study to evaluate the effect of EFAs on CNS functional development. Infants included in this study of the effect of developmental stage on EFA desaturation/elongation will be 2-5 days of age (before any fat is administered enterally or parenterally) and 28, 32, 36 or 40 weeks gestation. In addition, infants born at 28 and 40 weeks gestation will be studied 2 and 6 weeks postnatally after dietary fat has been provided for at least 7 days and energy intake is sufficient to assure growth. To evaluate the effect of dietary EFA on DHA and AA formation we will assess elongation/ desaturation in infants receiving 3 diets: human milk (which contains w-3 and w-6 LCPUFAs); cow milk based formula providing 18:2 w-6 and 18:3 w-3 but no LCPUFAs; or formula supplemented with added LCPUFAs (DHA and AA). Also, the relative efficiency of conversion of the 18-C precursors will be compared to the 20-C precursors with respect to their metabolic endpoints. This study should provide new information on the effects of developmental stage and w-3 and w-6 LCPUFA supply in determining the activity of EFA elongation/desaturation in the human. This knowledge may help in improving early neonatal nutritional practices to assure meeting the EFA needs of the developing CNS.
Study design
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Newborns with birth weights appropriate for their gestational age born at 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks gestation that are recovering from common neonatal morbidity will be recruited to enter the study before 5 days of age. This disease condition will not be life threatening at the time of study.
- The typical disease conditions expected based on the pilot phase of study are infants recovering from asphyxia, infants recovering from transient tachypnea, infants recovering from suspect pneumonia, infants recovering from hyaline membrane disease.
- Hyperbilirubinemia in conjunction with disease condition will not be a reason for exclusion.
- Newborns with birth weights below the tenth percentile of the weight distribution for a given gestational age born at 30-34 and 36-38 weeks gestation.
- Will include infants born at 28 to 40 weeks who are free of major neonatal morbidity and will be recruited to enter the study at 10 days of age.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Maternal factors which may affect their fatty acid metabolism of the neonate.
- Vegetarian or vegan diet during pregnancy
- Metabolic disease which may affect essential fatty acid status of the fetus (hyperlipidemia, diabetes)
- Birth weight inadequate for gestational age (birth weight below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile for gestational age)
- Significant acute neonatal morbidity which interferes with normal lipid metabolism during the study period. Infants who are recovering from common neonatal morbidities that do not have obvious effects on elongase/desaturase activity will not be excluded.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Not reported in the source record.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jul 2017.
- Background: PubMed 2962202Lee AG, East JM, Froud RJ. Are essential fatty acids essential for membrane function? Prog Lipid Res. 1986;25(1-4):41-6. doi: 10.1016/0163-7827(86)90009-3. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 3990716Glomset JA. Fish, fatty acids, and human health. N Engl J Med. 1985 May 9;312(19):1253-4. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198505093121909. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 7342077Sprecher H. Biochemistry of essential fatty acids. Prog Lipid Res. 1981;20:13-22. doi: 10.1016/0163-7827(81)90009-6. No abstract available.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Fatty Acid Metabolism, run by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at 2 sites in Chile.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Chile. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00342303, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2017.