Attention among very low birth weight infants following early supplementation with docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid.
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.
Westerberg
Ane C
AC
Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway. a.c.westerberg@medisin.uio.no
Schei
Ragnhild
R
Henriksen
Christine
C
Smith
Lars
L
Veierød
Marit B
MB
Drevon
Christian A
CA
Iversen
Per O
PO
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
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid