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Visual acuity and blood lipids in term infants fed human milk or formulae
S M Innis1, S S Akrabawi, D A Diersen-Schade
1Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Insights
Infant formula fatty acid composition did not impact growth or visual acuity in term infants. Breastfed infants had higher DHA and AA levels, but this did not affect outcomes in the first 3 months.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science
- Pediatric nutrition
- Infant development
Background:
- Infant nutrition is critical for development, with fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) playing key roles.
- Different infant formulas vary in fatty acid profiles, necessitating studies to assess their impact on infant outcomes.
- Breast milk serves as the gold standard for infant nutrition, providing a complex mixture of fatty acids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of different infant formulas and breast milk on fatty acid profiles, growth, and visual acuity in term infants.
- To investigate the relationship between specific fatty acids (DHA, AA) and infant development markers.
- To determine if common infant formulas provide adequate essential fatty acids for early infant development.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter, parallel group study involving term infants fed from birth to 90 days.
- Infants were fed either a palm-olein-based formula, a coconut and soy oil-based formula, or were exclusively breastfed.
- Evaluated plasma and red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid composition, plasma lipids, cholesterol, apolipoproteins, infant growth, and visual acuity.
Main Results:
- Breastfed infants showed significantly higher plasma and RBC phospholipid levels of DHA and AA, as well as lower apo B, compared to formula-fed infants.
- No significant differences in growth or visual acuity were observed among the three groups (two formula groups and breastfed group).
- No significant correlations were found between DHA levels and visual acuity, or AA levels and growth within or across the infant groups.
Conclusions:
- The infant formulas studied provided sufficient n-6 and n-3 fatty acids for adequate growth and visual acuity in term infants during the first three months of life.
- While breastfed infants exhibited higher DHA and AA levels, this did not translate to superior growth or visual acuity outcomes compared to formula-fed infants in this study.
- The findings suggest that current infant formula compositions are adequate for supporting normal early infant development, specifically concerning growth and visual acuity.
Abstract:
This multicenter, parallel group study determined plasma phospholipid and red blood cell (RBC) phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine fatty acids, plasma cholesterol, apo A-1 and B, growth and visual acuity (using the acuity card procedure) in term infants fed from birth to 90 d of age with formula containing palm-olein, high oleic sunflower, coconut and soy oil (22.2% 16:0, 36.2% 18:1, 18% 18:2n-6, 1.9% 18:3n-3) (n = 59) or coconut and soy oil (10.3% 16:0 18:6% 18:1, 34.2% 18:2n-6, 4.7% 18:3n-3) (n = 57) or breast-fed (n = 56) with no formula supplementation. Different centers in North America were included to overcome potential bias due to differences in n-6 or n-3 fatty acids at birth or in breast-fed infants that might occur in a single-site study. Plasma and RBC phospholipid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6), cholesterol and apo B were significantly lower in the formula- than breast-fed infants. There were no differences in looking acuity or growth among the breast-fed and formula-fed infants. No significant relations were found between DHA and looking acuity, or AA and growth within or among any of the infant groups. This study provides no evidence to suggest the formula provided inadequate n-6 or n-3 fatty acids for growth and looking acuity for the first 3 mon after birth.