Preterm babies who were given a supplement containing a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have shown improved visual function by the age of two and a half, according to a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg. The research, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, focused on 178 extremely preterm babies born before the 28th week of pregnancy.
Half of the children in the study were given preventive oral nutritional supplements containing arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, respectively. These fatty acids are not currently included in the standard supplements given to extremely preterm babies immediately after birth.
The researchers had previously discovered that this combination supplement reduced the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a sight-threatening eye disease, by 50%. The current study examined the visual development of the children at two and a half years of age, regardless of whether or not they had previously experienced ROP.
The lead author of the study, Pia Lundgren, who is an associate professor in pediatric eye research at the University of Gothenburg, stated that the combination supplement not only had a positive effect on the retina but also improved the brain’s ability to interpret visual impressions. Lundgren emphasized that these findings are significant for neonatal care, as there is currently a lack of precise guidelines regarding fatty acid supplementation for extremely preterm babies in Sweden. The guidelines are now being revised based on these new findings.
The researchers also plan to further investigate the cognitive and neurological development of the children in the study as part of ongoing research. This study has been supported by the Swedish Research Council’s clinical treatment research program and is led by Professor Ann Hellström of the University of Gothenburg.
The research team comprised researchers from various institutions, including the Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, and Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital in the USA.
In summary, the study provides evidence that a combination supplement of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can improve visual function in preterm babies by the age of two and a half. These findings have important implications for neonatal care and may lead to updated guidelines for nutritional supplementation for extremely preterm babies. Further research is planned to investigate the impact of the supplement on cognitive and neurological development in these children.
