Neurodevelopmental Quotient of Healthy Term Infants at 4 Months and Feeding Practice: The Role of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (original) (raw)

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ABSTRACT: A direct influence of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) on the developmental quotient (DQ) of the healthy term infant remains unexplored. To test this hypothesis, we designed a prospective study of three types of diet. Twentynine infants received a LC-PUFA-supplemented formula, 31 received a standard infant formula, and 30 infants were breastfed exclusively. Neurodevelopmental response was measured by the Brunet-Lézine psychomotor development lest at 4 mo. The fatty acid status was also assessed among three diet subgroups (59 subjects) at 4 mo. Formula-fed infants who received LC-PUFA supplementation scored significantly higher (p < 0.01) on the Brunet-Lézine scale than infants who received the standard formula. Breast-fed infants also performed better than those fed the standard formula. Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels in circulating lipids and erythrocyte phospholipids were higher among breast-fed infants and among the group fed the arachidonic- and docosahexaenoic acid-supplemented formula. These findings are suggestive that formula supplementation with one or both of these fatty acids can benefit term infants in neurodevelopmental performance.

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Milan, The San Paolo Biomedical Institute, Via Antonio di Rudinì 8, Milan, 20142, Italy
    Carlo Agostoni, Sabina Trojan, Roberto Bellù, Enrica Riva & Marcello Giovannini

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  1. Carlo Agostoni
  2. Sabina Trojan
  3. Roberto Bellù
  4. Enrica Riva
  5. Marcello Giovannini

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Agostoni, C., Trojan, S., Bellù, R. et al. Neurodevelopmental Quotient of Healthy Term Infants at 4 Months and Feeding Practice: The Role of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids.Pediatr Res 38, 262–266 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199508000-00021

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