Red blood cell and tissue phospholipid fatty acid profiles of weanling rats fed infant formula fat blends containing soy and/or corn oil.

Soy oil or corn oil may be employed to provide essential fatty acids in infant formulas. Both of these sources are high in linoleic acid; soy oil contains modest levels of alpha-linolenic acid, while corn oil contains very low levels of this essential omega 3 fatty acid. We examined the omega 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCP) accretion in red blood cells, liver, and brain phospholipids of rats on diets containing infant formula fat blends with essential fatty acids provided from soy and/or corn oil. Although modest alterations occurred in the red blood cell omega 3 LCP fatty acid status, substantially larger changes were noted in liver LCP profiles. Due to the relatively mature nature of the rats employed in this experiment, no alterations were noted in brain fatty acid profiles. In conclusion, we have observed substantial tissue differences in animals fed soy or corn oil containing diets. It appears that corn oil is inappropriate for use in infant formulas.