Abstract
Background: The concentration of sialic acid in brain gangliosides
and glycoproteins has been linked to learning ability in
animal studies. Human milk is a rich source of sialic acid–containing
oligosaccharides and is a potential source of exogenous
sialic acid.
Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the sialic acid
concentration in the brain frontal cortex of breastfed and formulafed
infants.
Design: Twenty-five samples of frontal cortex derived from infants
who died of sudden infant death syndrome were analyzed.
Twelve infants were breastfed, 10 infants were formula-fed, and 1
infant was mixed-fed; the feeding status of the remaining 2 infants
was unknown. Ganglioside-bound and protein-bound sialic acid
were determined by HPLC. Ganglioside ceramide fatty acids were
also analyzed to determine the relation between sialic acid and
long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Results: After adjustment for sex with age at death as a covariate,
ganglioside-bound and protein-bound sialic acid concentrations
were 32% and 22% higher, respectively, in the frontal cortex gray
matter of breastfed infants than in that of formula-fed infants (P
0.01). Protein-bound sialic acid increased with age in both groups
(P 0.02). In breastfed but not in formula-fed infants, ganglioside-
bound sialic acid correlated significantly with ganglioside
ceramide docosahexaenoic acid and total n3 fatty acids.
Conclusions: Higher brain ganglioside and glycoprotein sialic
acid concentrations in infants fed human milk suggests increased
synaptogenesis and differences in neurodevelopment.
and glycoproteins has been linked to learning ability in
animal studies. Human milk is a rich source of sialic acid–containing
oligosaccharides and is a potential source of exogenous
sialic acid.
Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the sialic acid
concentration in the brain frontal cortex of breastfed and formulafed
infants.
Design: Twenty-five samples of frontal cortex derived from infants
who died of sudden infant death syndrome were analyzed.
Twelve infants were breastfed, 10 infants were formula-fed, and 1
infant was mixed-fed; the feeding status of the remaining 2 infants
was unknown. Ganglioside-bound and protein-bound sialic acid
were determined by HPLC. Ganglioside ceramide fatty acids were
also analyzed to determine the relation between sialic acid and
long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Results: After adjustment for sex with age at death as a covariate,
ganglioside-bound and protein-bound sialic acid concentrations
were 32% and 22% higher, respectively, in the frontal cortex gray
matter of breastfed infants than in that of formula-fed infants (P
0.01). Protein-bound sialic acid increased with age in both groups
(P 0.02). In breastfed but not in formula-fed infants, ganglioside-
bound sialic acid correlated significantly with ganglioside
ceramide docosahexaenoic acid and total n3 fatty acids.
Conclusions: Higher brain ganglioside and glycoprotein sialic
acid concentrations in infants fed human milk suggests increased
synaptogenesis and differences in neurodevelopment.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1024-1029 |
Journal | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 78 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 |