| Introduction Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, the
most abundant fatty acids in the brain, are essential for the
growth and development of the brain and the retina.
Objective To evaluate the efect of fsh oil supplementation
on the development (primary outcome) and growth of
4- and 6-month-old infants.
Methods In this triple-blind randomized controlled trial,
150 pregnant women aged 18–35 years, who were referred
to healthcare centres of Tabriz-Iran, were randomly allocated
into two groups. One group of women consumed fsh
oil supplementation (containing 120 mg docosahexaenoic
acid and 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid) daily, while the
other consumed a placebo from the 20th week of pregnancy
till 30 days after childbirth in a parallel design by
a computer-generated block randomization scheme. The neurodevelopment of infants was the primary outcome;
it was assessed using the ages and stages questionnaire
(ASQ) at 4- and a-6 months of age. The growth of these
infants was measured using weight, length and head circumference.
The participants, the caregivers, and those
assessing the outcomes were blind to the group assignment.
Results Only one woman in the placebo group discontinued
the intervention because of persistent severe nausea.
All 75 neonates aged 4- and a-6 months in the fsh oil supplementation
group, along with 73 and 71 neonates aged 4
and 6 months, respectively in the placebo group, were followed
and analysed. Although the mean scores of neurodevelopment
at the end of 4 and 6 months were higher in the
supplemented group than in the placebo group in each ASQ
domain, a statistically signifcant diference was observed
only in the communication domain at the 4th month
(adjusted mean diference 2.63; 95% confdence interval
0.36–4.89). There was no signifcant diference in weight,
length, or head circumference between the two groups of
infants aged 4 and 6 months (P ≥ 0.05).
Conclusion Based on the results, perinatal fsh oil supplementation
is benefcial for the communication domain
of neurodevelopment of 4-month-old infants. The study
results relating to the supplementation efect on other
domains are inconclusive. There ought to be further studies
with up-to-date lipidomic analysis to fnd biochemical
correlate compared to an intervention and developmental
fnding. |