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n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Mothers, Preterm Infants, and Term Infants and Childhood Psychomotor and Visual Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Shulkin, Masha; Pimpin, Laura; Bellinger, David; Kranz, Sarah; Fawzi, Wafaie; Duggan, Christopher; Mozaffarian, Dariush.
Affiliation
  • Shulkin M; Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition & Science Policy, Boston, MA.
  • Pimpin L; University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Bellinger D; Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition & Science Policy, Boston, MA.
  • Kranz S; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
  • Fawzi W; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
  • Duggan C; Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
  • Mozaffarian D; Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition & Science Policy, Boston, MA.
J Nutr ; 148(3): 409-418, 2018 03 01.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29546296
ABSTRACT

Background:

Epidemiologic studies link maternal seafood and n-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) consumption with improved childhood cognitive development; trials show mixed results.

Objective:

We investigated effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on child cognitive and visual outcomes.

Methods:

We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed randomized controlled trials of n-3 PUFA supplementation in mothers or infants (age ≤2 y) and evaluated standardized measures of cognitive or visual development up to age 18 y. Of 6286 abstracts and 669 full-text articles, 38 trials with 53 intervention arms were included. Data were extracted independently in duplicate. Findings were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis across supplementation periods (maternal, preterm, term infant); we also explored subgroup analyses stratified by supplementation period. Heterogeneity was explored using I2, stratified analysis, and meta-regression. Cognitive development was assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant Development mental and psychomotor developmental indexes (MDI, PDI) and intelligence quotient (IQ); visual acuity was assessed by electrophysiological or behavioral measures.

Results:

The 38 trials (mothers n = 13; preterm infants n = 7; term infants n = 18) included 5541 participants. When we explored effects during different periods of supplementation, n-3 PUFA supplementation improved MDI in preterm infants (3.33; 95% CI 0.72, 5.93), without statistically significant effects on PDI or IQ in different intervention period subgroups. Visual acuity [measured as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR)] was improved by supplementation in preterm (-0.08 logMAR; 95% CI -0.14, -0.01 logMAR) and term infants (-0.08 logMAR; 95% CI -0.11, -0.05 logMAR), with a nonsignificant trend for maternal supplementation (-0.02 logMAR; 95% CI -0.04, 0.00 logMAR). In main analyses pooling all supplementation periods, compared with placebo, n-3 PUFA supplementation improved MDI (n = 21 trials; 0.91; 95% CI 0.005, 1.81; P = 0.049), PDI (n = 21 trials; 1.06 higher index; 95% CI 0.10, 2.03; P = 0.031), and visual acuity (n = 24; -0.063 logMAR; 95% CI -0.084, -0.041 logMAR; P < 0.001) but not IQ (n = 7; 0.20; 95% CI -1.56, 1.96, P = 0.83), although few studies assessed this endpoint. Potential publication bias was identified for MDI (Eggers P = 0.005), but not other endpoints. Significant differences in findings were not identified by world region, race, maternal education, age at outcome assessment, supplementation duration, DHA or EPA dose, DHAAA ratio, or study quality score (P-interaction > 0.05 each).

Conclusions:

n-3 PUFA supplementation improves childhood psychomotor and visual development, without significant effects on global IQ later in childhood, although the latter conclusion is based on fewer studies.
Subject(s)

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Infant, Premature / Visual Acuity / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Child Development / Cognition / Dietary Supplements / Mothers Type of study: Clinical_trials / Prognostic_studies / Systematic_reviews Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Child / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Newborn Language: En Journal: J Nutr Year: 2018 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Publication country: EEUU / ESTADOS UNIDOS / ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA / EUA / UNITED STATES / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / US / USA

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Infant, Premature / Visual Acuity / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Child Development / Cognition / Dietary Supplements / Mothers Type of study: Clinical_trials / Prognostic_studies / Systematic_reviews Limits: Adolescent / Adult / Child / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Newborn Language: En Journal: J Nutr Year: 2018 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Publication country: EEUU / ESTADOS UNIDOS / ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA / EUA / UNITED STATES / UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / US / USA