title: A randomized trial of DHA intake during infancy: school readiness and receptive vocabulary at 2-3.5 years of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies investigating the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in infant formula on language development yield conflicting results. No study to date has investigated the effects of DHA in infant formula on school readiness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of different dietary concentrations of DHA provided during the first 12 months of life on language development and school readiness.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a double-masked, randomized, controlled, prospective trial. A total of 182 infants were enrolled at 1-9 days of age and assigned randomly to receive infant formula with one of four levels of DHA: control (0% DHA), 0.32% DHA, 0.64% DHA, or 0.96% DHA. All formulas with DHA also contained 0.64% arachidonic acid. One hundred forty-one children completed the 12-month feeding trial and were eligible for this study. Consent was obtained from 131 participants. School readiness was assessed at 2.5 years using the Bracken Basic Concept Scale-Revised (BBCS-R) and receptive vocabulary was assessed at 2 and 3.5 years using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition (PPVT-III).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no diet group differences on any of the BBCS-R subscales. On the PPVT-III, the control group had higher raw scores and standard scores than both the 0.32% and 0.96% groups at 2 years of age. These differences were not evident at 3.5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary DHA during the first year of life did not enhance school readiness or language development. Children who consumed infant formula with 0.32% and 0.96% DHA showed lower receptive vocabulary scores than controls at 2 but not 3.5 years of age.
authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. jrdrover@mun.ca
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Drover
authors: Joost
authors: J
authors: Felius
authors: Dennis R
authors: DR
authors: Hoffman
authors: Yolanda S
authors: YS
authors: Castañeda
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Garfield
authors: Dianna H
authors: DH
authors: Wheaton
authors: Eileen E
authors: EE
authors: Birch
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D014825:Vocabulary
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids