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.

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.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. S. Harris, D. Mozaffarian, M. Lefevre, C. D. Toner, J. Colombo, S. C. Cunnane, J. M. Holden, D. M. Klurfeld, M. C. Morris, and J. Whelan Towards Establishing Dietary Reference Intakes for Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids J. Nutr., April 1, 2009; 139(4): 804S - 819S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Agostoni, G. V. Zuccotti, G. Radaelli, R. Besana, A. Podesta, A. Sterpa, A. Rottoli, E. Riva, and M. Giovannini Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and time at achievement of gross motor milestones in healthy infants: a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2009; 89(1): 64 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. DeMar Jr., C. DiMartino, A. W. Baca, W. Lefkowitz, and N. Salem Jr. Effect of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid from alpha-linolenic acid in young rats J. Lipid Res., September 1, 2008; 49(9): 1963 - 1980. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Singhal, R. Morley, T. J Cole, K. Kennedy, P. Sonksen, E. Isaacs, M. Fewtrell, A. Elias-Jones, T. Stephenson, and A. Lucas Infant nutrition and stereoacuity at age 4-6 y Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 152 - 159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L Cheatham, J. Colombo, and S. E Carlson n-3 Fatty acids and cognitive and visual acuity development: methodologic and conceptual considerations Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2006; 83(6): S1458 - 1466S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Makrides and R. A Gibson Reply to C Kuratko et al and to P Grandjean Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2005; 82(6): 1354 - 1355. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C McCann and B. N Ames Is docosahexaenoic acid, an n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for development of normal brain function? An overview of evidence from cognitive and behavioral tests in humans and animals Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 281 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E Birch, Y. S Castaneda, D. H Wheaton, D. G Birch, R. D Uauy, and D. R Hoffman Visual maturation of term infants fed long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-supplemented or control formula for 12 mo Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2005; 81(4): 871 - 879. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M Innis, Z. Vaghri, and D J. King n-6 Docosapentaenoic acid is not a predictor of low docosahexaenoic acid status in Canadian preschool children Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2004; 80(3): 768 - 773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R J Harris Nutrition in the 21st century: what is going wrong Arch. Dis. Child., February 1, 2004; 89(2): 154 - 158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-F. Ng and S. M. Innis Behavioral Responses Are Altered in Piglets with Decreased Frontal Cortex Docosahexaenoic Acid J. Nutr., October 1, 2003; 133(10): 3222 - 3227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Auestad, D. T. Scott, J. S. Janowsky, C. Jacobsen, R. E. Carroll, M. B. Montalto, R. Halter, W. Qiu, J. R. Jacobs, W. E. Connor, et al. Visual, Cognitive, and Language Assessments at 39 Months: A Follow-up Study of Children Fed Formulas Containing Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids to 1 Year of Age Pediatrics, September 1, 2003; 112(3): e177 - 183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C A Malcolm, D L McCulloch, C Montgomery, A Shepherd, and L T Weaver Maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and visual evoked potential development in term infants: a double blind, prospective, randomised trial Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., September 1, 2003; 88(5): F383 - F390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Bouwstra, D. J. Dijck-Brouwer, J. A. Wildeman, H. M Tjoonk, J. C van der Heide, E R. Boersma, F. A. Muskiet, and M. Hadders-Algra Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have a positive effect on the quality of general movements of healthy term infants Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2003; 78(2): 313 - 318. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J S Forsyth, P Willatts, C Agostoni, J Bissenden, P Casaer, and G Boehm Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infant formula and blood pressure in later childhood: follow up of a randomised controlled trial BMJ, May 3, 2003; 326(7396): 953 - 953. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M Innis and S. L Elias Intakes of essential n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids among pregnant Canadian women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2003; 77(2): 473 - 478. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. B. Helland, L. Smith, K. Saarem, O. D. Saugstad, and C. A. Drevon Maternal Supplementation With Very-Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy and Lactation Augments Children's IQ at 4 Years of Age Pediatrics, January 1, 2003; 111(1): e39 - 44. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Blank, M. A. Neumann, M. Makrides, and R. A. Gibson Optimizing DHA levels in piglets by lowering the linoleic acid to {alpha}-linolenic acid ratio J. Lipid Res., September 1, 2002; 43(9): 1537 - 1543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Kodas, S. Vancassel, B. Lejeune, D. Guilloteau, and S. Chalon Reversibility of n-3 fatty acid deficiency-induced changes in dopaminergic neurotransmission in rats: critical role of developmental stage J. Lipid Res., August 1, 2002; 43(8): 1209 - 1219. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Auestad, R. Halter, R. T. Hall, M. Blatter, M. L. Bogle, W. Burks, J. R. Erickson, K. M. Fitzgerald, V. Dobson, S. M. Innis, et al. Growth and Development in Term Infants Fed Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: A Double-Masked, Randomized, Parallel, Prospective, Multivariate Study Pediatrics, August 1, 2001; 108(2): 372 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Berger, G. Crozier, T. Bisogno, P. Cavaliere, S. Innis, and V. Di Marzo Anandamide and diet: Inclusion of dietary arachidonate and docosahexaenoate leads to increased brain levels of the corresponding N-acylethanolamines in piglets PNAS, May 22, 2001; 98(11): 6402 - 6406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]