The Groningen LCPUFA study: no effect of postnatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in healthy term infants on neurological condition at 9 years.
Long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) supplementation of formula can have beneficial effects on neurodevelopmental outcome in early infancy, but uncertainty exists regarding effects after 6 months. The present study is the first to investigate whether consumption by term infants of formula containing LCPUFA for the first 2 months after birth improves neurological condition of these children at 9 years of age. A prospective, double-blind, randomised control study was performed in two groups of healthy term infants: a control group with standard formula (n 169) and a LCPUFA-supplemented group (LF; n 146). A breast-fed group (BF; n 159) served as a reference. At age 9 years, children were neurologically assessed according to Touwen, resulting in a Neurological Optimality Score and information on severity and type of minor neurological dysfunction (MND). Information on potential confounders was collected at enrollment and follow-up. Multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate the effect of nutrition while adjusting for confounders. Attrition (28 %) was selective: drop-outs in the LF group were more often boys and had a significantly lower mental developmental index at 18 months. Neurological optimality and severity and type of MND at 9 years did not differ between the two formula groups. Children in the BF group showed significantly less often fine manipulative dysfunction than formula-fed children. In conclusion, LCPUFA supplementation of formula during the first 2 postnatal months in healthy term infants does not alter neurological function at school age. The study confirmed that breast-fed infants have a slightly better neurodevelopmental outcome than formula-fed infants.
de Jong
Corina
C
Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental Neurology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kikkert
Hedwig K
HK
Fidler
Vaclav
V
Hadders-Algra
Mijna
M
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated