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Early behaviour and development in breast-fed premature infants are influenced by omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid status.

Lundqvist, Cristina LU ; Lau, Gerd ; Nordin, Per ; Strandvik, Birgitta and Sabel, Karl-Göran (2010) In Early Human Development 86(7). p.407-412
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The requirement of essential fatty acids (EFA) for the development of the brain is well documented. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early neurological development at term and 44weeks gestational age in preterm infants in relation to EFA concentrations in breast milk and in infants' and mothers' plasma phospholipids. METHOD: Fifty-one premature infants and their mothers were consecutively included in the study. The median gestational age was 34weeks (range 24-36). The motor quality, motor and behavioural development were assessed by General Movements (GMs), the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) and a Self Regulation Scale. RESULTS: Mother's education and gestational age correlated to several outcome variables.... (More)
BACKGROUND: The requirement of essential fatty acids (EFA) for the development of the brain is well documented. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early neurological development at term and 44weeks gestational age in preterm infants in relation to EFA concentrations in breast milk and in infants' and mothers' plasma phospholipids. METHOD: Fifty-one premature infants and their mothers were consecutively included in the study. The median gestational age was 34weeks (range 24-36). The motor quality, motor and behavioural development were assessed by General Movements (GMs), the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) and a Self Regulation Scale. RESULTS: Mother's education and gestational age correlated to several outcome variables. Multiple regression with correction for background factors showed negative associations between early breast milk concentrations of Mead acid and GMs and between AA and the BNBAS clusters Orientation and Range of States, respectively. Between 40 and 44weeks gestational age, no expected increased scores were observed for Regulation of States, Range of States and Self Regulation. During the corresponding time, increased concentration of linoleic acid in mothers' plasma was negatively associated with improvement in Orientation and increased concentration of EPA in the infants' plasma was positively associated with improvement in Autonomic Stability. CONCLUSIONS: The major omega-6 fatty acids and Mead acid were negatively associated with early development and omega-3 fatty acids positively associated. Mother's education and the gestational age influenced the outcome more strongly than mother's and infant's morbidities. Further follow-up will elucidate the significance of these early findings. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Early Human Development
volume
86
issue
7
pages
407 - 412
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000281177900003
  • scopus:77955276595
  • pmid:20646880
ISSN
1872-6232
DOI
10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.05.017
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
234e0741-1c6f-492d-8bae-c14c6634c6a7 (old id 1644718)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:34:50
date last changed
2022-01-28 01:19:31
@article{234e0741-1c6f-492d-8bae-c14c6634c6a7,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: The requirement of essential fatty acids (EFA) for the development of the brain is well documented. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early neurological development at term and 44weeks gestational age in preterm infants in relation to EFA concentrations in breast milk and in infants' and mothers' plasma phospholipids. METHOD: Fifty-one premature infants and their mothers were consecutively included in the study. The median gestational age was 34weeks (range 24-36). The motor quality, motor and behavioural development were assessed by General Movements (GMs), the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) and a Self Regulation Scale. RESULTS: Mother's education and gestational age correlated to several outcome variables. Multiple regression with correction for background factors showed negative associations between early breast milk concentrations of Mead acid and GMs and between AA and the BNBAS clusters Orientation and Range of States, respectively. Between 40 and 44weeks gestational age, no expected increased scores were observed for Regulation of States, Range of States and Self Regulation. During the corresponding time, increased concentration of linoleic acid in mothers' plasma was negatively associated with improvement in Orientation and increased concentration of EPA in the infants' plasma was positively associated with improvement in Autonomic Stability. CONCLUSIONS: The major omega-6 fatty acids and Mead acid were negatively associated with early development and omega-3 fatty acids positively associated. Mother's education and the gestational age influenced the outcome more strongly than mother's and infant's morbidities. Further follow-up will elucidate the significance of these early findings.}},
  author       = {{Lundqvist, Cristina and Lau, Gerd and Nordin, Per and Strandvik, Birgitta and Sabel, Karl-Göran}},
  issn         = {{1872-6232}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{407--412}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Early Human Development}},
  title        = {{Early behaviour and development in breast-fed premature infants are influenced by omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid status.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.05.017}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.05.017}},
  volume       = {{86}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}