Abstract
BackgroundLow birth weight infant (LBWIs) are prone to mental and behavioural problems. As an important constituent of the brain and retina, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for foetal infant mental and visual development. The effect of lactation supplemented with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on the improvement of intelligence in low birth weight children requires further validation.MethodsIn this study, a comprehensive search of multiple databases was performed to identify studies focused the association between intelligence and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in LBWIs. Studies that compared the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) or the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence for Children (WISC) scores between LBWIs who were supplemented and controls that were not supplemented with LCPUFA during lactation were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis.ResultsThe main outcome was the mean difference in the mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) of the BSID and the full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) and performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) of the WISC between LBWIs and controls. Our findings indicated that the mean BSID or WISC scores in LBWIs did not differ between the supplemented groups and controls.ConclusionThis meta-analysis does not reveal that LCPUFA supplementation has a significant impact on the level of intelligence in LBWIs.
Highlights
Low birth weight infants (LBWIs) are born with a birth weight of less than 2500 g, and those with a birth weight less than 1500 g are referred to as very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) [1]
The effect of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on intelligence development review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication
The searches were conducted to identify all published studies that reported data on the mean differences and standard deviations of the mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) or the full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence for Children (WISC) between LBWIs supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) and those who were not
Summary
Low birth weight infants (LBWIs) are born with a birth weight of less than 2500 g, and those with a birth weight less than 1500 g are referred to as very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) [1]. Low birth weight (LBW) in infants has become a public health problem worldwide. LBW is an important factor in the development of mental and psychomotor intelligence. LBW and preterm birth often occur simultaneously, and because the most prolific period of foetal brain development is during the last three months of pregnancy [7], preterm birth can cause developmental immaturity of the neonatal nervous system. Low birth weight infant (LBWIs) are prone to mental and behavioural problems. As an important constituent of the brain and retina, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for foetal infant mental and visual development. The effect of lactation supplemented with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on the improvement of intelligence in low birth weight children requires further validation
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