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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
09:38
Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: November 29, 2013
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants
K Simmer1, S M Schulzke, S Patole
1King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Neonatal Clinical Care Unit, Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA, Australia 6008. Karen.Simmer@health.wa.gov.au
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|February 7, 2008
Summary
Supplementing preterm infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) showed no clear long-term benefits. However, LCPUFA supplementation did not impair the growth of these infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Pediatric research
- Essential fatty acids
Background:
- Preterm infants may have limited ability to synthesize long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), crucial for brain and retinal development.
- Essential fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA), are precursors to LCPUFA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of supplementing preterm infant formula with LCPUFA.
- To determine if LCPUFA supplementation benefits preterm infants' development and growth.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving formula supplemented with LCPUFA.
- Searches included MEDLINE, Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.
- Clinical endpoints, including visual acuity, neurodevelopment (Bayley Scales of Infant Development), and growth, were assessed.
Main Results:
- Most studies found no significant differences in visual acuity between supplemented and control infants.
- Meta-analysis showed no significant effect of LCPUFA supplementation on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 or 18 months.
- Growth outcomes were mixed, with some studies reporting benefits and others suggesting potential negative effects, though meta-analysis showed no significant long-term impact on weight, length, or head circumference.
Conclusions:
- Pooled results from RCTs indicate no clear long-term benefits of LCPUFA supplementation in preterm infant formula.
- There is no evidence that LCPUFA supplementation negatively impacts the growth of preterm infants.
- Variations in study methodology, dosage, and fatty acid composition limit definitive conclusions.
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