Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans
09:38

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: November 29, 2013

17.7K

Early docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid supplementation in extremely-low-birth-weight infants

Daniel T Robinson1, Michael Caplan2, Susan E Carlson3

  • 1Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.

Pediatric Research
|June 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Daily buccal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) drops did not increase blood levels in extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants. This study found no significant changes in fatty acid levels with this supplementation method.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric fatty acid metabolism
  • Infant supplementation

Background:

  • Extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants often have significant deficits in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA).
  • Improved strategies are needed to enhance DHA and ARA levels in these vulnerable infants.
  • Buccal administration of DHA and ARA was investigated as a novel supplementation approach.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if daily buccal administration of DHA and ARA supplements can increase blood levels in ELBW infants.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of buccal DHA+ARA drops in improving docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid status.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 30 ELBW infants was conducted.
  • Infants received daily DHA and ARA drops via buccal mucosa or placebo for 8 weeks.
  • Red blood cell phospholipid levels of DHA and ARA were measured at 2 and 8 weeks of age.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-eight infants completed the study.
  • No significant differences in red blood cell DHA or ARA levels were observed between the DHA+ARA supplemented groups and the placebo group at 2 or 8 weeks.
  • While DHA levels showed a trend of increase from 2 to 8 weeks, ARA levels did not change significantly over time.

Conclusions:

  • Daily buccal administration of DHA and ARA supplements did not effectively increase blood fatty acid levels in ELBW infants.
  • The buccal route may not be an efficient method for supplementing DHA and ARA in this population.
  • Further research into alternative or optimized supplementation strategies for ELBW infants is warranted.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

834
Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids13:05

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids

Published on: June 28, 2019

8.8K

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
693
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
567
Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:18

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ...
2.5K
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,...
7