Abstract
Background: Higher-dose docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, (∽1% total fats) compared with standarddose (∽0.3%) in infants born < 33 weeks gestation improved the mental development of girls (JAMA, 2009). We aimed to evaluate the effect of higher- DHA milk on behaviour and language development in early childhood.
Method: Follow-up of a subgroup of infants (n=143) enrolled in the DINO trial. DINO was a multicentre randomised controlled trial, n=657, with stratification for sex, birth weight (< 1250g, ≥1250g) and centre. Lactating women took tuna oil capsules (higherdose DHA) or soy oil capsules (standard); preterm infant formula with matching DHA composition was given if needed.
Language was assessed using the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory (MCDI) at 26 months corrected age (CA). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Short Temperament Scale for Children (STSC) were used to assess behaviour at 3-5 years CA.
Results: MCDI scores did not differ between groups (Vocabulary Production: higher-DHA (mean±SD) 308±79; control 316±92; P=0.8). Overall, there was a higher incidence of behavioural difficulties in these children compared with term-born children. However, the SDQ and STSC composite scores did not differ between groups (SDQ total difficulties: higher-DHA 10.3±6.0; control 9.5±5.5; P=0.5; STSC score: higher-DHA 3.1±0.7; control 3.0±0.7; P=0.3).
Conclusions: In this subgroup of infants, feeding preterm infants milk containing 3 times the standard DHA level did not result in any clinically meaningful change to language development or behaviour in early childhood.
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Collins, C., Smithers, L., Simmonds, L. et al. 381 Language and Behaviour Followup From the Dino (DHA for the Improvement of Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Preterm Infants) Trial. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 196 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00381
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00381