Improved cognitive development among preterm infants attributable to early supplementation of human milk with docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid for human milk-fed preterm infants. The primary end point was cognitive development at 6 months of age.


METHODS
The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study among 141 infants with birth weights of <1500 g. The intervention with 32 mg of docosahexaenoic acid and 31 mg of arachidonic acid per 100 mL of human milk started 1 week after birth and lasted until discharge from the hospital (on average, 9 weeks). Cognitive development was evaluated at 6 months of age by using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and event-related potentials, a measure of brain correlates related to recognition memory.


RESULTS
There was no difference in adverse events or growth between the 2 groups. At the 6-month follow-up evaluation, the intervention group performed better on the problem-solving subscore, compared with the control group (53.4 vs 49.5 points). There was also a nonsignificant higher total score (221 vs 215 points). The event-related potential data revealed that infants in the intervention group had significantly lower responses after the standard image, compared with the control group (8.6 vs 13.2). There was no difference in responses to novel images.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid for very preterm infants fed human milk in the early neonatal period was associated with better recognition memory and higher problem-solving scores at 6 months.
Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway.
Christine
C
Henriksen
Kristin
K
Haugholt
Magnus
M
Lindgren
Anne Karin
AK
Aurvåg
Arild
A
Rønnestad
Morten
M
Grønn
Rønnaug
R
Solberg
Atle
A
Moen
Britt
B
Nakstad
Rolf Kristian
RK
Berge
Lars
L
Smith
Per Ole
PO
Iversen
Christian André
CA
Drevon
D000367:Age Factors; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid