Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #112861
Title: EFFECTS OF MATERNAL DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID (DHA) SUPPLEMENTATION ON VISUAL AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL FUNCTION OF BREAST-FED INFANTS

Author
item Jensen, Craig
item VOIGT, ROBERT - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item PRAGER, THOMAS - UNIV TX HELTH SCI CNTR
item FRALEY, J - CNRC/BAYLOR COL OF MED
item ZOU, YALI - UNIV TX HLTH SCI CNTR
item Heird, William

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The presence of DHA, an important component of the structural lipids of the brain and retina, in human milk is a possible explanation of the better visual and cognitive development of breastfed infants reported in some studies. Because the amount of DHA in milk of U.S. women is lower than that of other populations and since milk DHA is dependent on maternal DHA intake, many have suggested that lactating women and their infants might benefit from supplemental DHA. Mothers who planned to breastfeed exclusively for at least 4 mo were assigned randomly and blindly to receive either ~200 mg/d of DHA (Group 1) or a placebo (Group 2) for 120 days. Visual function of infants was assessed at 120 and 240 days of age by transient visual evoked potentials (VEP). Visual acuity was measured at the same times by sweep VEP and the Teller Acuity Card Procedure. Infant neurodevelopmental status at 12 mo of age was assessed by the Clinical Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS) and the Gesell Gross Motor Developmental Quotient (GM DQ). Bayley Scales of Infant Development (MDI, PDI) were administered at 30 mo of age. Milk and infant plasma phospholipid DHA were 60% and 35% higher, respectively, in Group 1 vs. 2. There were no differences in any measure of visual function/acuity at either age. There also were no statistically significant differences in CAT, CLAMS or GM DQ scores between groups. We conclude that DHA supplementation of breastfeeding mothers confers no benefit with respect to visual function or any aspect of neurodevelopment assessed.