Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Post term dietary-induced changes in DHA and AA status relate to gains in weight, length, and head circumference in

Monique van de Lagemaat1, Joost Rotteveel, Frits A J Muskiet

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.vandelagemaat@vumc.nl

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids
|October 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Supplementing preterm infants with higher levels of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids in postdischarge formula may enhance postnatal growth. This study found associations between erythrocyte DHA and AA levels and infant growth metrics.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric growth and development
  • Essential fatty acid metabolism

Background:

  • Premature infants experience rapid postnatal declines in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA).
  • Supplementation is crucial to mitigate these declines and support optimal development.
  • Understanding the impact of different feeding strategies on fatty acid status and growth is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between erythrocyte DHA and AA levels and growth in preterm infants.
  • To compare the effects of different postdischarge feeding formulas on erythrocyte DHA and AA concentrations and subsequent growth.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 139 preterm infants were fed human milk with fortifier or preterm formula until term.
  • Postdischarge feeding included postdischarge formula (PDF), term formula (TF), or human milk (HM).
  • Erythrocyte DHA and AA levels and growth parameters (weight, length, head circumference) were assessed at term and six months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • Postdischarge formula (PDF) resulted in significantly higher erythrocyte DHA and AA levels compared to term formula (TF).
  • No significant differences in growth were observed between the feeding groups from term to six months corrected age.
  • Erythrocyte DHA positively correlated with weight and length gain but negatively with head circumference gain.
  • Erythrocyte AA positively correlated with head circumference gain but negatively with weight and length gain.

Conclusions:

  • Postdischarge formula (PDF) with higher DHA and AA concentrations than term formula (TF) may support better postnatal growth in preterm infants.
  • Individual fatty acid associations with specific growth parameters suggest complex regulatory mechanisms.
  • Further research is warranted to optimize DHA and AA supplementation strategies for preterm infants.

More Related Videos

Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups09:35

Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups

Published on: April 24, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...