Erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid correlates with the visual response of healthy, term infants

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dc.contributor.authorMakrides, M.
dc.contributor.authorSimmer, K.
dc.contributor.authorGoggin, M.
dc.contributor.authorGibson, R.A.
dc.date.issued1993
dc.description.abstractRecent studies have reported that formula-fed preterm infants score lower on visual and developmental tests relative to breast-fed preterm infants. This phenomenon has been associated with the presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, in breast milk and its absence from infant formula. To investigate the possibility that DHA status of healthy, term infants is also related to neuronal function of the visual pathway, we studied the erythrocyte fatty acid profiles of 16 infants at 22.3 +/- 3.9 wk of age and related these to maturity of the visual pathway as assessed by visual-evoked potentials. Healthy, term infants fed breast milk had better visual-evoked potential acuity (p < 0.05) and higher DHA levels (p < 0.001) than infants who received infant formula as their major energy source. There was a positive correlation between erythrocyte DHA and visual-evoked potential acuity (p < 0.01). The data are preliminary and the long-term effects as yet unknown. However, our results suggest that there is an urgent need to evaluate the dietary fatty acid supply of formula-fed term infants.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMakrides, K Simmer, M Goggin, and R A Gibson
dc.identifier.citationPediatric Research, 1993; 33(4):425-427
dc.identifier.doi10.1203/00006450-199304000-00021
dc.identifier.issn0031-3998
dc.identifier.issn1530-0447
dc.identifier.orcidMakrides, M. [0000-0003-3832-541X]
dc.identifier.orcidGibson, R.A. [0000-0002-8750-525X]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/92162
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInternational Pediatric Research Foundation
dc.rights© 1993 lnternatlonal Pediatric Research Foundation. Inc.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199304000-00021
dc.subjectErythrocytes
dc.subjectVisual Pathways
dc.subjectMilk, Human
dc.subjectDietary Fats, Unsaturated
dc.subjectDocosahexaenoic Acids
dc.subjectBreast Feeding
dc.subjectVisual Acuity
dc.subjectEvoked Potentials, Visual
dc.subjectInfant
dc.subjectInfant Food
dc.titleErythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid correlates with the visual response of healthy, term infants
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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