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Nutritional effects on auditory brainstem maturation in healthy term infants
1Department of Pediatrics, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. buny@gata.edu.tr
Insights
Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in infant formula promote faster auditory brainstem development. Breast milk and DHA-supplemented formula showed improved brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) maturation compared to standard formula.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Neurodevelopmental pediatrics
- Auditory neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory brainstem maturation is crucial for infant development.
- Dietary fatty acids play a role in neural development.
- Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are essential for brain growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of LCPUFA supplementation in infant formula on auditory brainstem maturation.
- To compare the effects of DHA-supplemented formula, unsupplemented formula, and breast milk on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs).
Main Methods:
- A 16-week randomized controlled trial involving three groups: DHA-supplemented formula (Formula A), unsupplemented formula (Formula B), and breast milk (control).
- Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were measured at the beginning and end of the study.
- Infant feeding was exclusively assigned to one of the three groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in BAEPs were observed between groups at baseline.
- All groups showed significant decreases in absolute wave and interpeak latencies by 16 weeks.
- Formula A and the control group exhibited significantly greater improvements in BAEP maturation compared to Formula B.
Conclusions:
- Dietary LCPUFA supplementation, via breast milk or fortified formula, accelerates auditory brainstem maturation in newborns.
- Standard infant formulas lacking LCPUFAs result in slower BAEP maturation.
- Routine LCPUFA supplementation in infant formulas warrants consideration for promoting infant neurodevelopment.
Objective:
To assess the effects of dietary long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation on auditory brainstem maturation of healthy term newborns during the first 16 weeks of life by measuring brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs).
Design:
Throughout the 16 week study period, infants in the formula A group (n = 28) were assigned to be fed exclusively with the same formula supplemented with DHA, and infants in the formula B group (n = 26) were assigned to receive only a DHA unsupplemented but otherwise similar formula. During the study period, the first 26 consecutive infants to be fed exclusively on their mother's milk for at least the first 16 weeks of life were chosen as the control group. BAEP measurements were performed twice: at the first and 16th week of age.
Results:
There were no significant differences among the study and control groups in the BAEP measurements performed at the study entry. At 16 weeks of age, all absolute wave and interpeak latencies in the study and control groups had significantly decreased. The decreases were significantly greater in the formula A and control groups than in the formula B group.
Conclusions:
Infants fed on human milk or a formula supplemented with LCPUFAs during the first 16 weeks of life show more rapid BAEP maturation than infants fed on a standard formula. Although the clinical importance and long term effects of these findings remain to be determined, routine supplementation of formulas with LCPUFAs should be considered.
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