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Meta-analysis of LCPUFA supplementation of infant formula and visual acuity
Ahmad Qawasmi1, Angeli Landeros-Weisenberger, Michael H Bloch
1Child Study Center and cDepartment of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. michael.bloch@yale.edu
Insights
Supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) significantly improves infant visual acuity up to 12 months. This meta-analysis confirms LCPUFA benefits for visual development in infants.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are crucial for infant development.
- Visual acuity development in infants is hypothesized to be influenced by LCPUFA intake.
- Previous research includes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on LCPUFA-supplemented infant formulas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of LCPUFA supplementation in infant formulas on infant visual acuity.
- To synthesize evidence from RCTs assessing LCPUFA's impact on visual development.
- To determine if LCPUFA supplementation improves visual resolution acuity in infants.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
- Searches were performed in PubMed and PsycInfo for relevant studies.
- Visual acuity was assessed using visual evoked potential and behavioral methods in infants within their first year.
Main Results:
- Nineteen studies with 1949 infants were included in the meta-analysis.
- LCPUFA supplementation showed a significant benefit for infant visual acuity at 2, 4, and 12 months (visual evoked potential) and at 2 months (behavioral methods).
- No moderating effects were found for LCPUFA dose, timing, birth status, or methodological quality in secondary analyses.
Conclusions:
- LCPUFA supplementation in infant formulas enhances infant visual acuity up to 12 months of age.
- The findings support the role of LCPUFAs in supporting optimal visual development during infancy.
- Further research may explore long-term visual outcomes and optimal LCPUFA profiles.
Background And Objective:
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are hypothesized to affect visual acuity development in infants. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to assess whether supplementation of LCPUFAs of infant formulas affects infant visual acuity. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate whether LCPUFA supplementation of infant formulas improves infants' visual acuity.
Methods:
PubMed and PsycInfo were searched for RCTs assessing the efficacy of LCPUFA supplementation of infant formulas on infant visual acuity. RCTs assessing the effects of LCPUFA supplementation on visual acuity (by using either visual evoked potential or behavioral methods) in the first year of life were included in this meta-analysis. Our primary outcome was the mean difference in visual resolution acuity (measured in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution [logMAR]) between supplemented and unsupplemented infants. We also conducted secondary subgroup analyses and meta-regression examining the effects of LCPUFA dose and timing, preterm versus term birth status, and trial methodologic quality.
Results:
Nineteen studies involving 1949 infants were included. We demonstrated a significant benefit of LCPUFA supplementation on infants' visual acuity at 2, 4, and 12 months of age when visual acuity was assessed by using visual evoked potential and at 2 months of age by using behavioral methods. There was significant heterogeneity between trials but no evidence of publication bias. Secondary analysis failed to show any moderating effects on the association between LCPUFA supplementation and visual acuity.
Conclusions:
Current evidence suggests that LCPUFA supplementation of infant formulas improves infants' visual acuity up to 12 months of age.
