title: May the supplementation of lipid emulsion containing DHA in VLBW infants influence their psychological development evaluated at three years of age? Preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible influence of a lipid emulsion containing DHA (docosahexaenoic polyunsaturated fatty acid), parenterally administered from the first day of life, on the psychological development of 3-year-old children born with very low birth weight (VLBW). It was suspected that an increased amount of DHA in parenteral nutrition may be a variable that modifies the relation between other medical or social factors and their influence on the child's development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of three-year-old children with calendar age ranging from 29 to 51 months (mean value--38 months) were tested. The children in the study group (n=23) were parenterally nourished during the first weeks of life with a lipid emulsion containing DHA. The patients in the control group (n=13) were fed with a lipid emulsion without DHA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the General Linear Model (GLM) with the analysis of interaction effects, it was found that the supplementation of the lipid emulsion containing DHA in parenteral nutrition from the first day of life beneficially influenced the relation between immaturity associated with the children's health status at birth and emotional development evaluated at three years of age. It also modified the relation between emotional and linguistic development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When administered after birth in prematurely born children, the lipid emulsion containing DHA may influence their development at the age of three years. It may either compensate the negative effects that immaturity associated with the health status at birth has on emotional development, or stimulate the language development in children whose emotional development is normal.
authors: Instytut Psychologii, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Al. Mickiewicza 3, 31-120 Kraków, Poland, tel. 519-516-453, e-mail: marta.bialecka-pikul@uj.edu.pl.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Białecka-Pikul
authors: Ryszard
authors: R
authors: Lauterbach
authors: Dorota
authors: D
authors: Pawlik
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids