Faecal fatty acids and gastrointestinal upset in newborn infants

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 91 - 94
• Main Authors: Ahtonen, P., Lehtonen, O.‐P., Kero, P., Eerola, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.02.1997; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Diarrhea - etiology; Fatty Acids - analysis; Feces - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intestines - microbiology; Microbiology; Europe; Finland; Human; Gas chromatography; Newborn; Long chain; Gut; Associated microflora; Feces; Fatty acids; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-765X.1997.00341.x

Patterns of long‐chain faecal fatty acids were studied by gas–liquid chromatography in 55 newborn infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. Decreased fractions of fatty acid C16 : 19 and increased fractions of C16 : 0 and C17 : 0 were associated with the occurrence of abdominal distension. Decreased fractions of C16 : 19 and C18 : 29,1 were associated with diarrhoea. Flatulence was found in infants who had relatively smaller amounts of fatty acids C17 : 0D and C15 : 0 in their faecal samples. The differences in the patterns of faecal fatty acids are due to differences in bacterial flora. The results support the hypothesis that the initial intestinal colonization plays a role in the later gastrointestinal signs of newborn infants.