DHA improves neuropsychological status and visual acuity in breast-fed term infants

Objective

Better psychomotor development was previously reported among 30 months old infants whose mothers received DHA supplement in first 4 months of lactation. This study was conducted to assess neuropsychological and visual function of the same children at 5 years of age.

Study population

Lactating women

Length of study

From delivery until 4 months postpartum

Intervention

High-DHA algal oil (~200 mg/day of DHA) or a vegetable oil (containing no DHA) from delivery until 4 months postpartum.

DHA intake during early infancy confers long-term benefits on specific aspects of neurodevelopment of children

Results

Children whose mothers received DHA versus placebo performed significantly better on the Sustained Attention Subscale of the Leiter International Performance Scale (46.5 ± 8.9 vs. 41.9 ± 9.3, p<0.008) (Figure 1).

DHA-improves-neuropsychological-status-and-visual-acuity-in-breast-fed-term-infants

Conclusion

5-year-old children whose mothers received modest DHA supplementation versus placebo for the first 4 months of breastfeeding performed better on a test of sustained attention.

Source

Jensen CL, Voigt RG, Llorente AM et al. Effects of early maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on neuropsychological status and visual acuity at five years of age of breast-fed term infants. J Pediatr. 2010;157(6):900-905.