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PEDIATRICS Vol. 105 No. 1 January 2000, pp. 32-38

A Critical Appraisal of the Role of Dietary Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Neural Indices of Term Infants: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Received Mar 23, 1999; accepted Jun 24, 1999.

Maria Makrides PhD, Mark A. Neumann, Karen Simmer, and Robert A. Gibson

From the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Flinders University of South Australia and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia.

Objective.  To determine whether dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid, affect visual evoked potential (VEP) acuity of formula-fed infants, relative to breastfed infants. A secondary objective was to assess the effect of LCPUFA on Bayley's mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI).

Methods.  Formula-fed infants were randomly allocated, in a double-blind manner, to either a placebo (no LCPUFA; n = 21), DHA supplemented (n = 23), or DHA+arachidonic acid supplemented formula (n = 24). Infants were fed their assigned formula from the first week of life until 1 year of age. A parallel reference group of breastfed infants was recruited and followed (n = 46). Infant VEP acuity was assessed at 16 and 34 weeks, and Bayley's MDI and PDI were assessed at 1 and 2 years of age.

Results.  There were no differences among the randomized formula groups for VEP acuity at either 16 or 34 weeks of age. Breastfed infants had better VEP acuity at 34 weeks of age, but not at 16 weeks, compared with all formula-fed infants. Bayley's MDI and PDI were similar in the 3 formula-fed groups at 1 and 2 years. Breastfed infants had higher MDI scores than formula-fed infants at 2 years of age even after adjusting for environmental variables.

Conclusions.  LCPUFA supplementation did not influence VEP acuity development in these well-nourished, formula-fed infants.  Key words:  docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, visual evoked potential, infants, breast milk, infant formula, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, development.




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