Docosahexaenoic Acid and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Term Infants | Zendy

S. J. Meldrum | Zendy; Karen Simmer | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Docosahexaenoic Acid and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Term Infants

Author(s) -

S. J. Meldrum,

Karen Simmer

Publication year - 2016

Publication title -

annals of nutrition and metabolism

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.926

H-Index - 81

eISSN - 1421-9697

pISSN - 0250-6807

DOI - 10.1159/000448271

Subject(s) - docosahexaenoic acid , pregnancy , observational study , confounding , offspring , medicine , polyunsaturated fatty acid , lactation , pediatrics , fish oil , physiology , brain development , fatty acid , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , biochemistry , genetics , neuroscience , fishery

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, is essential for normal brain development. DHA is found predominantly in seafood, fish oil, breastmilk and supplemented formula. DHA intake in Western countries is often below recommendations. Observational studies have demonstrated an association between DHA intake in pregnancy and neurodevelopment of offspring but cannot fully adjust for confounding factors that influence child development. Randomised clinical trials of DHA supplementation during pregnancy and/or lactation, and of term infants, have not shown a consistent benefit nor harm on neurodevelopment of healthy children born at term. The evidence does not support DHA supplementation of healthy pregnant and lactating women, nor healthy infants.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research