TY - JOUR
T1 - Higher dose of docosahexaenoic acid in the neonatal period improves visual acuity of preterm infants
T2 - Results of a randomized controlled trial
AU - Smithers, Lisa G.
AU - Gibson, Robert A.
AU - McPhee, Andrew
AU - Makrides, Maria
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008/10/1
Y1 - 2008/10/1
N2 - Background: Preterm infants have improved visual outcomes when fed a formula containing 0.2-0.4% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared with infants fed no DHA, but the optimal DHA dose is unknown. Objective: We assessed visual responses of preterm infants fed human milk (HM) and formula with a DHA concentration estimated to match the intrauterine accretion rate (high-DHA group) compared with infants fed HM and formula containing DHA at current concentrations. Design: A double-blind randomized controlled trial studied preterm infants bom at <33 wk gestation and fed HM or formula containing 1% DHA (high-DHA group) or ≈0.3% DHA (current practice; control group) until reaching their estimated due date (EDD). Both groups received the same concentration of arachidonic acid. Sweep visual evoked potential (VEP) acuity and latency were assessed at 2 and 4 mo corrected age (CA). Weight, length, and head circumference were assessed at EDD and at 2 and 4 mo CA. Results: At 2 mo CA, acuity of the high-DHA group did not differ from the control group [high-DHA group (x̄ ± SD): 5.6 ± 2.4 cycles per degree (cpd), n = 54; control group: 5.6 ± 2.4 cpd, n = 61; P = 0.96]. By 4 mo CA, the high-DHA group exhibited an acuity that was 1.4 cpd higher than the control group (high-DHA: 9.6 ± 3.7 cpd, n = 44; control: 8.2 ± 1.8 cpd; n = 51; P = 0.025). VEP latencies and anthropometric measurements were not different between the high-DHA and control groups. Conclusion: The DHA requirement of preterm infants may be higher than currently provided by preterm formula or HM of Australian women.
AB - Background: Preterm infants have improved visual outcomes when fed a formula containing 0.2-0.4% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) compared with infants fed no DHA, but the optimal DHA dose is unknown. Objective: We assessed visual responses of preterm infants fed human milk (HM) and formula with a DHA concentration estimated to match the intrauterine accretion rate (high-DHA group) compared with infants fed HM and formula containing DHA at current concentrations. Design: A double-blind randomized controlled trial studied preterm infants bom at <33 wk gestation and fed HM or formula containing 1% DHA (high-DHA group) or ≈0.3% DHA (current practice; control group) until reaching their estimated due date (EDD). Both groups received the same concentration of arachidonic acid. Sweep visual evoked potential (VEP) acuity and latency were assessed at 2 and 4 mo corrected age (CA). Weight, length, and head circumference were assessed at EDD and at 2 and 4 mo CA. Results: At 2 mo CA, acuity of the high-DHA group did not differ from the control group [high-DHA group (x̄ ± SD): 5.6 ± 2.4 cycles per degree (cpd), n = 54; control group: 5.6 ± 2.4 cpd, n = 61; P = 0.96]. By 4 mo CA, the high-DHA group exhibited an acuity that was 1.4 cpd higher than the control group (high-DHA: 9.6 ± 3.7 cpd, n = 44; control: 8.2 ± 1.8 cpd; n = 51; P = 0.025). VEP latencies and anthropometric measurements were not different between the high-DHA and control groups. Conclusion: The DHA requirement of preterm infants may be higher than currently provided by preterm formula or HM of Australian women.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=53849097712&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ajcn/88.4.1049
DO - 10.1093/ajcn/88.4.1049
M3 - Article
C2 - 18842793
AN - SCOPUS:53849097712
SN - 0002-9165
VL - 88
SP - 1049
EP - 1056
JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
IS - 4
ER -