Search

Aim: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation of infant formula may have a beneficial effect on cognitive development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of LCPUFA formula supplementation primarily on cognition and secondarily on behaviour at age 9 years. Special attention was paid to the potentially modifying effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy. Method: A double-blind, randomized control study was performed in two groups of healthy infants born at term: one group, constituting the control group, received standard formula (n = 169) and another group received standard formula supplemented with LCPUFAs (n = 146). A breastfed group (n = 159) served as an additional reference. At 9 years of age, 72% of the children (control group: n = 123; 71 males, 52 females; LCPUFA group: n = 91; 42 males, 49 females; breastfed group: n = 127, 64 males, 63 females) underwent extensive cognitive and behavioural testing. Results: An interaction between infant nutrition and smoking during pregnancy was found. Among children exposed to smoking during pregnancy, LCPUFA supplementation was associated with higher mean verbal IQ scores (p = 0.007) and learning and memory (p = 0.006). Among children not exposed to smoking during pregnancy, LCPUFA supplementation was associated with lower mean verbal memory scores (p = 0.003). Executive function scores were significantly lower in the LCPUFA-supplemented group than in the control group (p = 0.001). Breastfeeding was associated with better performance on IQ (p = 0.005). Interpretation: No consistent beneficial effect of LCPUFA formula supplementation on cognitive development in term-born infants was found. The study confirmed that breastfeeding is associated with better cognition. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

Aim: The Infant Motor Profile (IMP) is a qualitative assessment of motor behaviour of infants aged 3 to 18 months. The aim of this study was to investigate construct validity of the IMP through the relation of IMP scores with prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal variables, including the presence of brain pathology indicated by neonatal ultrasound imaging of the brain. Method: A longitudinal prospective study was performed in a group of 30 term infants (12 females, 18 males; median gestational age 40.1wks, range 37.6-42wks) and 59 preterm infants (25 females, 34 males; median gestational age 29.7wks, range 25-34.7wks). IMP assessments were performed at (corrected) ages of 4, 6, 10, 12, and 18 months. Socio-economic and perinatal data were collected, which, in the case of preterm infants, included information on periventricular leukomalacia and intraventricular hemorrhage based on neonatal cranial ultrasound. Data were analysed by fitting mixed-effects models. Results: Gestational age, socio-economic status, and 5-minute Apgar scores were significant determinants of IMP scores in the total group of infants (p less than 0.001, less than 0.002, and less than 0.042 respectively). In the subgroup of preterm infants, IMP scores were significantly affected by brain lesions on neonatal ultrasound (p less than 0.001) and by socio-economic status (p = 0.001). Interpretation: The findings support the construct validity of the IMP: IMP scores are clearly associated with relevant determinants of neuromotor function.