title: Supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) to breastfeeding mothers for improving child growth and development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are the most abundant fatty acids in the brain and are necessary for growth and maturation of the brain and retina. LCPUFA are named "essential" because they cannot be synthesised efficiently by the human body and come from maternal diet. It remains controversial whether LCPUFA supplementation to breastfeeding mothers is beneficial for the development of their infants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness and safety of supplementation with LCPUFA in breastfeeding mothers in the cognitive and physical development of their infants as well as safety for the mother and infant.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (November 2009), CENTRAL (2009, Issue 2), PubMed (1966 to July 2009), EMBASE (1974 to June 2009), CINAHL (1984 to June 2009), LILACS (1982 to June 2009), Google Scholar (June 2009) and reference lists of published narrative and systematic reviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trials or cluster-randomised controlled trials evaluating the effects of LCPUFA supplementation on breastfeeding mothers and their infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two review authors independently assessed eligibility and trial quality and performed data extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included six randomised controlled trials involving 1280 women. We found no significant difference in children's neurodevelopment: language development (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.49 to 0.20; two trials, 349 participants); intelligence or problem-solving ability (two trials, 817 participants; SMD -0.22, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.66); psychomotor development (SMD 0.34, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.78; two trials, 279 participants); motor development (SMD 0.08, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.29; two trials, 349 participants); in child attention there was a significant difference (SMD 0.50, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.77; one study). For child visual acuity there was no significant difference (SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.14; three trials, 401 participants). For growth, there were significant differences in length (MD -0.75 cm, 95% CI -1.38 to -0.12; two trials, 834 participants) and head circumference (MD 0.69 cm, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.02; one trial, 244 participants). One study reported a significant difference in infant allergy (risk ratio (RR) 0.12, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.95). We found no significant difference in one trial evaluating postpartum depression (SMD 0.15, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the limited evidence that we found, LCPUFA supplementation did not appear to improve children's neurodevelopment or visual acuity. In two studies, LCPUFA supplementation was associated with increased head circumference. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the practice of giving LCPUFA supplementation to breastfeeding mothers in order to improve infant growth and development.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia; Iberoamerican Cochrane Network, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mario F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Delgado-Noguera
authors.forename: Jose Andres
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Calvache
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bonfill Cosp
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007360:Intelligence; D007804:Language Development; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated