title: Attention among very low birth weight infants following early supplementation with docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in early neonatal life on cognitive functions among human milk fed very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) at 20 months chronological age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention supplementing human milk with 0.5 mL oil (containing 32 mg DHA and 31 mg AA or placebo) per 100 mL milk from 1 week after birth until discharge from hospital (9 weeks on average). The intervention and control group included 44 and 48 children, respectively. Attention capacity was evaluated by two 'free-play' sessions. General cognitive functions were evaluated by the Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) and an Ages and Stages Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results from the free-play sessions suggested positive effects from supplementation on functions related to attention. Neither the Bayley MDI nor the Ages and Stages Questionnaire showed significant difference between the intervention and control group. Plasma DHA concentration at discharge was positively correlated with both 'Sustained Attention' and the Bayley MDI according to chronological age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A positive effect of early supplementation with DHA and AA on 20 months attention capacity was indicated. These findings need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway. a.c.westerberg@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Ane C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Westerberg
authors.forename: Ragnhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schei
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Marit B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Veierød
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Drevon
authors.forename: Per O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Iversen
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid