NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 01 - Infant formula supplemented with
long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) does not improve the
neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants, according to a report
in the July issue of Pediatrics.
Breast milk contains long-chain PUFA, which is found in high
concentrations in cell membranes, particularly those of the central
nervous system, and is thought to play an important role in brain
development.
Because standard infant formula does not contain long-chain PUFA,
researchers have reasoned that formula supplemented with this fatty
acid would benefit preterm infants whose brains have not fully
matured. But studies to date have yielded conflicting results.
In the current study, neurodevelopmental test results at 9 and 18
months did not differ significantly among 195 preterm infants,
regardless of whether they were fed long-chain PUFA-supplemented
formula or standard formula while in the hospital.
However, at 18 months, the children who had been fed the
supplemented formula showed a slight trend toward better developmental
scores, especially among those born before 30 weeks of pregnancy,
study author Dr. Mary S. Fewtrell, from the Institute of Child Health
in London, and colleagues note.
While this finding could have been due to chance, the researchers
believe it warrants further study because it is possible that children
given long-chain PUFA-supplemented formula will show measurable gains
later in life.
"Failure to demonstrate a significant effect of long-chain PUFA
supplementation on global tests of development during infancy does not
exclude the possibility of more subtle effects, which might become
apparent at a later age, when more detailed neurocognitive testing is
possible," they write. "This emphasizes the need for long-term
follow-up of infants enrolled in supplementation studies, currently
being planned for our cohort."
But the researchers also note that there are concerns with the
supplemented formula. At 18 months, children in this group were
shorter and lighter than those given standard formula.
Furthermore, a group of 88 control infants who were breastfed
scored higher on developmental tests than either group of formula-fed
infants.
Pediatrics 2002;110:73-82.
