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Randomized trials with polyunsaturated fatty acid interventions in preterm and term infants: Functional and clinical outcomes

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Lipids

Abstract

The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in infant nutrition has now been well studied through many randomized controlled trials (RCT) that provide us with high-quality evidence, particularly in relation to efficacy. As a result of a systematic search of the literature for RCT of supplementation of formulas of term and preterm infants with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), we have identified 21 studies that have physiological responses or growth as outcomes. There have been 11 RCT involving preterm infants, and many of these claim a beneficial effect on visual, neural, or developmental outcomes. There are some reports of negative effects on growth in relation to the addition of n−3 LC-PUFA to preterm formulas but not when AA is added with n−3 LC-PUFA. Small studies have shown no differences in prostanoid formation or peroxidative stress between n−3 IC-PUFA-supplemented and unsupplemented infants. There have been 10 RCT involving term infants; whereas some studies report an effect on visual/neural/developmental outcomes, an equal number report no effect. There have been no reports of negative effects of n−3 LC-PUFA on growth in term infants. In summary, there appear to be few safety concerns relating to the use of LC-PUFA in infant nutrition. The potential medium- and long-term effects of including these compounds in the early diet of infants remain to be assessed.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

ALA:

α-linolenic acid

BAEP:

brainstem auditory-evoked potential

BPD:

bronchopulmonary dysplasia

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

ERG:

electroretinogram

LA:

linoleic acid

LC-PUFA:

long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

RCT:

randomized controlled trials

VEP:

visualevoked potential

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Health Research Institute at Flinders Centre and Women's & Children's Hospital, Bedford Park, 5042, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Robert A. Gibson & Maria Makrides

  2. Department of Paediatrics, Fujian Medical University Affiliated Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China

    Wenxiong Chen

Authors
  1. Robert A. Gibson
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  2. Wenxiong Chen
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  3. Maria Makrides
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Correspondence to Robert A. Gibson.

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Gibson, R.A., Chen, W. & Makrides, M. Randomized trials with polyunsaturated fatty acid interventions in preterm and term infants: Functional and clinical outcomes. Lipids 36, 873–883 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0797-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-001-0797-2

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