Background: Little is known about the critical period during which the dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) may influence the m aturation of visual cortical function in term infants. Aim: To define the relati onship between duration of dietary LCPUFA supply and visual acuity at 52 weeks of age. Study design: Data from 243 infants who part icipated in four randomized clinical trials of LCPUFA supplementation of infant formula at a single research center were combined. The primary outcome was visua l acuity at 52 weeks of age as measured by swept visual evoked potentials (sweep VEP). Results: Longer duration of LCPUFA supply was associated with better mean acuity at 52 weeks of age (r=-0.878; p<0.001). The relationship between durati on of dietary LCPUFA supply and sweep VEP acuity at 52 weeks was similar whether the LCPUFAs were provided via formula containing 0.36%DHA and 0.72%ARA or hum an milk. Duration of breast-feeding was associated with individual infants’swe ep VEP acuity outcomes at 52 weeks (r=0.286; p< 0.005). The duration of LCPUFA s upply during infancy has a similar relationship to sweep VEP acuity at 52 weeks in breastfed infants regardless of birth order. Conclusion: A continued benefit from a supply of LCPUFAs is apparent in infants through 52 weeks of age, suggest ing that the brain may not have sufficient stores of LCPUFAs from an early postn atal supply to support the optimal maturation of the visual cortex.
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