孕期膳食脂肪酸与新生儿出生结局关系的研究

目的探讨孕期膳食脂肪酸与新生儿出生状况的关系。方法招募早孕妇女,采用即时性图像法调查孕中、晚期膳食状况,计算食物摄入量,以及能量、宏量营养素和脂肪酸摄入量;采集新生儿体质量、身长和BMI等体格生长指标,分析孕期膳食脂肪酸摄入与新生儿体格生长之间的关联。结果在有效纳入的516名孕妇中,孕中期和孕晚期膳食多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)平均摄入量以及占总脂肪酸比例分别为15.09g/d、23.93%和17.18g/d、24.7%,其中n-6和n-3 PUFA摄入量在孕中期为14.23 g/d和3.45 g/d,孕晚期为16.08 g/d和3.81 g/d,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。孕中期n-6/n-3 PUFA比值为4.11,孕晚期4.28,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)摄入量在孕中期为64.43 mg/d,孕晚期75.12 mg/d,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。亚油酸(LA)和α-亚麻酸(ALA)两种必需脂肪酸占能量的百分比在孕中期分别为5.95%和1.42%,孕晚期为6.20%和1.45%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。孕中期n-3和n-6 PUFA摄入量、n-6/n-3比值均与新生儿BMI呈正相关(r=0.142~0.189,P0.05),孕晚期只有n-3 PUFA和DHA摄入量与新生儿出生体质量呈正相关(r=0.206,0.193,P0.05),n-6/n-3比值与新生儿BMI未表现出相关性(r=-0.018,P0.05)。结论孕中期膳食n-6和n-3摄入与新生儿BMI相关。     

卵清蛋白诱导的过敏小鼠模型中多不饱和脂肪酸代谢变化

目的：观察卵清蛋白（OVA）诱导的过敏小鼠模型中多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）代谢的变化。方法：以缺乏n-3 PUFA饲料饲养雌鼠的仔鼠（21日龄）24只,随机分为空白组、OVA组和PBS组,各8只。实验第1 d,空白组心脏采血处死。实验第1 和15 d,OVA组腹腔注射含50 μg OVA和1.3 mg氢氧化铝凝胶的PBS 0.2 mL,PBS组腹腔注射等量PBS。实验第29~39 d,OVA组以含50 mg OVA的PBS 0.3 mL隔日灌胃,共6次;PBS组予等量PBS灌胃。实验第39 d末次灌胃后,OVA组和PBS组均心脏采血处死,取空肠组织和脾组织。 OVA过敏小鼠模型成功建立的判断标准：观察灌胃后小鼠腹泻情况,对空肠组织切片进行形态学观察（HE染色）和肥大细胞计数（甲苯胺蓝染色）,血清sIgE水平检测（ELISA 法）,脾组织中IL-4和IFN-γ检测（ELISA法）。提取各组小鼠血清中的脂肪酸,采用液相色谱法检测α 亚麻酸（ALA）、二十碳五烯酸（EPA）、二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）、花生四烯酸（AA）和亚油酸（LA）水平。结果：①成功建立OVA诱导过敏小鼠模型：与PBS组比较,OVA组在灌胃后发生急性腹泻;小肠绒毛有大量炎症细胞浸润,潘氏细胞脱颗粒,固有层中肥大细胞聚集脱颗粒,肥大细胞数目增加（P＜0.05）;血清OVA-sIgE 水平、脾细胞培养上清中IL-4和IL-4/IFN-γ升高（P＜0.05）。②PBS组血清DHA、EPA和LA水平较空白组降低,AA水平升高,差异均有统计学意义,OVA组较PBS组血清DHA水平降低。结论：OVA过敏小鼠出现以DHA降低为主的脂肪酸代谢紊乱。     

Breastfeeding and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake in the first 4 post-natal months and infant cognitive development: an observational study

The aim of this study was to examine infant feeding and the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) concentration of breast milk and formulas in relation to infant development. The prospective Pregnancy, Infection and Nutrition Study (n=358) collected data on breastfeeding, breast milk samples and the formulas fed through 4months post-partum. At 12months of age, infants' development was assessed (Mullen Scales of Early Learning). Linear regression was used to examine development in relation to breastfeeding, breast milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) concentration, and DHA and AA concentration from the combination of breast milk and formula. The median breast milk DHA concentration was 0.20% of total fatty acids [interquartile range (IQR)=0.14, 0.34]; median AA concentration was 0.52% (IQR=0.44, 0.63). Upon adjustment for preterm birth, sex, smoking, race and ethnicity and education, breastfeeding exclusivity was unrelated to development. Among infants exclusively breastfed, breast milk LCPUFA concentration was not associated with development (Mullen composite, DHA: adjusted β=-1.3, 95% confidence interval: -10.3, 7.7). Variables combining DHA and AA concentrations from breast milk and formula, weighted by their contribution to diet, were unassociated with development. We found no evidence of enhanced infant development related to the LCPUFA content of breast milk or formula consumed during the first four post-natal months.     

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and fetal growth

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of plasma choline phosphoglycerides has been measured at birth in 22 preterm infants. Positive correlations were found between both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and measurements of growth and maturation. 20:4(n-6) and the sum of 20:3(n-6) + 20:4(n-6) correlated most strongly with weight and head circumference, while 22:6(n-3) showed strongest correlation with length of gestation. These findings are of relevance to understanding the role of nutrition in fetal growth and in establishing the group of infants most at risk of postnatal deficiency of essential fatty acids.     

Comparison of the fatty acid composition of total lipids and phospholipids in breast milk from Japanese women

Fatty acid (FA) composition of total lipids (TL) and phospholipids (PL) in breast milk obtained from 20 normal delivery healthy women in Tokyo, Japan was analyzed. Total lipids were extracted from the samples and then PL, consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), sphingomyelin (Sph) and phosphatidylinositol (PI), were separated by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. The FA composition of TL and PL was analyzed by gas liquid-chromatography. Compared with previous reports, the contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) in TL from Japanese women were higher than those from Chinese and Canadian women, which may be caused by different dietary habits and food types consumed by those populations. The contents of arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6), EPA and DHA in PE and PI were much higher than those in PC. In addition, no significant correlation of EPA or DHA content was found between TL and PL. The findings indicate that PL especially PE and PI in human milk may be a source of EPA and DHA for infants in the rapid developmental stage. These results should be considered in infant formula production.     

Essential fatty acids, DHA and human brain

Essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized in the body but they are required for maintenance of optimal health. There are two classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)- omega-6 and omega-3. The parent omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA) is desaturated in the body to form arachidonic acid while parent omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is desaturated by microsomal enzyme system through a series of metabolic steps to form eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA). But there is a limited metabolic capability during early life to metabolize PUFAs to more active long-chain fatty acids. There is a critical role of EFAs and their metabolic products for maintenance of structural and functional integrity of central nervous system and retina. Most of the brain growth is completed by 5–6 years of age. At birth brain weight is 70% of an adult, 15% brain growth occurs during infancy and remaining brain growth is completed during preschool years. DHA is the predominant structural fatty acid in the central nervous system and retina and its availability is crucial for brain development. It is recommended that the pregnant and nursing woman should take at least 2.6g of omega-3 fatty acids and 100–300 mg of DHA daily to look after the needs of her fetus and suckling infant. The follow-up studies have shown that infants of mothers supplemented with EFAs and DHA had higher mental processing scores, psychomotor development, eye-hand coordination and stereo acuity at 4 years of age. Intake of EFAs and DHA during preschool years may also have a beneficial role in the prevention of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and enhancing learning capability and academic performance.     

Effect of dietary Lorenzo's oil and docosahexaenoic acid treatment for Zellweger syndrome

We investigated the possible therapeutic effect of decreasing plasma levels of very-long-chain fatty acids (C26:0) with a synthetic oil containing trioleate and trielucate (Lorenzo's oil) as well as increasing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cells (RBC) with DHA ethyl ester in four patients with Zellweger syndrome. We investigated serial changes of plasma C26:0 levels and DHA levels in RBC membranes by gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). After death, the fatty acid composition of each patient's cerebrum and liver was studied. Dietary administration of Lorenzo's oil diminished plasma C26:0 levels. Earlier administration of Lorenzo's oil was more effective and the response did not depend on the duration of administration. DHA was incorporated into RBC membrane lipids when administrated orally, and its level increased for several months. The final DHA level was correlated with the duration of administration and was not related to the timing of initiation of treatment. DHA levels in the brains and livers of treated patients were higher than in untreated patients. Early initiation of Lorenzo's oil and the long-term administration of DHA may be useful for patients with Zellweger syndrome.     

Docosahexaenoic acid status at 9 months is inversely associated with communicative skills in 3‐year‐old girls

The objective of the present observational study was to investigate if the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status assessed in infant erythrocytes (RBC) at 9 months was associated with the age when the infants reach developmental milestones and their psychomotor function at 3 years of age. Three hundred eleven healthy Danish children were followed from 9 months to 3 years of age (the SKOT cohort). RBC fatty acid composition was analysed by gas chromatography in 272 of the children. Milestone age was collected by questionnaires at 9 and 18 months and psychomotor development at 3 years of age was assessed by the parents using third edition of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ‐3). RBC DHA levels ranged from 2.2% to 12.6% of the RBC fatty acids. The age of reaching milestones correlated with psychomotor development, particularly with gross motor function at 3 years. An association between milestones and later personal and social skills was also observed, but only for girls. In girls, RBC–DHA was found to be inversely correlated with communication at 3 years of age (odds ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.56–0.86, P = 0.001), but no other associations with psychomotor development or milestones were found. The results from study indicate that DHA status at 9 months may not have a pronounced beneficial effect on psychomotor development in early childhood and that communicative skills at 3 years of age may even be inversely associated with early RBC–DHA levels in girls.     

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and perinatal development

This paper reports on the conclusions of a workshop on the role of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in maternal and child health. The attending investigators involved in the majority of randomized trials examining LC-PUFA status and functional outcomes summarize the current knowledge in the field and make recommendations for dietary practice. Only studies published in full or in abstract form were used as our working knowledge base. Conclusions: For healthy infants we recommend and strongly support breastfeeding as the preferred method of feeding, which supplies preformed LC-PUFA. Infant formulas for term infants should contain at least 0.2% of total fatty acids as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 0.35% as arachidonic acid (AA). Since preterm infants are born with much less total body DHA and AA, we suggest that preterm infant formulas should include at least 0.35% DHA and 0.4% AA. Higher levels might confer additional benefits and should be further investigated because optimal dietary intakes for term and preterm infants remain to be defined. For pregnant and lactating women we consider it premature to recommend specific LC-PUFA intakes. However, it seems prudent for pregnant and lactating women to include some food sources of DHA in their diet in view of their assumed increase in LC-PUFA demand and the relationship between maternal and foetal DHA status.     

The role of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in neonatal nutrition*

Exciting new research has shown that both preterm and term infants can actively convert the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). However, the amount of LCPUFA being produced, particularly of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), may not be sufficient to meet the developmental requirement of the infant. Because DHA is a major component of retinal and brain tissues, a number of studies have been initiated to test the effect of dietary LCPUFA on neural outcomes in infants. These studies have largely involved a comparison of neural responses from infants fed standard infant formula (no LCPUFA) with infants receiving LCPUFA from either supplemented formula or breast milk. The results have been equivocal and may be due to the variety of LCPUFA supplements and formula fat blends used, differing testing techniques as well as variations in clinical trial conduct, but are clearer in preterm than term infants. Overall the results indicate a possible role for LCPUFA in neurodevelopment.     

早产儿长链多价不饱和脂肪酸水平及相关因素研究

目的 探讨早产儿出生时长链多价不饱和脂肪酸（ＬＣＰ）水平及其相关因素。方法 用毛细管气相色谱法测定２８例早产儿脐静脉血（简称脐血）及其母亲静脉血血浆和红细胞膜ＬＣＰ水平,同时测定早产儿出生时体重、身长、头围。２０例健康足月儿作为对照组。结果（１）母血亚油酸（ＬＡ）、亚麻酸高于脐血,差异有显著意义;脐血花生四烯酸（ＡＡ）、廿二碳六烯酸（ＤＨＡ）高于母血;脐血（ＬＡ）、亚麻酸高于脐血,差异有显著意义;     

Fatty acid composition of plasma and red cell phospholipids of preterm babies fed on breast milk and formulae

Fatty acids of plasma and red cells of preterm babies, gestational age 28–33 weeks, weighing less than 2200 g were studied between birth and the expected date of delivery (EDD). Babies were fed either mothers' breast milk, or if they were unable, or chose not to breastfeed, randomly assigned to milk formula A or B. Milk B had 26% oleic acid, 0.5% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 0.12% arachidonic (AA); A had 13% oleic acid, less than 0.05% AA and no DHA. The proportions of gamma linoleic and the other fatty acids, and the ratio of linoleic acid (LA)/alpha linolenic acid (ALA) were comparable in the two formulae. Diet and/or physiological adaptation seemed to be responsible for the significant changes in the proportions of certain fatty acids between birth and EDD. Incorporation of DHA in formula B increased its concentration in plasma and red cells, and reduced the conversion of LA to AA. With respect to maintenance of DHA status, milk B was superior to milk A but did not match breast milk.Conclusion Fortification of formula with DHA without concomitant incorporation of AA may precipitate AA insufficiency and may have developmental implications.     

Dietary intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids among pregnant Mexican women

Nutritional demands for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are high during pregnancy. Diets low in DHA and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty-acids (LC-PUFA) in pregnancy are associated with poorer DHA status and slower reestablishment of maternal stores. To assess intakes of LC-PUFA among urban pregnant women in Central Mexico, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in Prenatal Clinic at the General Hospital No. 1 of the Mexican Society Security Institute, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. We ascertained intakes over past three months of 110 food items using a food frequency questionnaire developed for this population. Among 1364 pregnant women 18-35 years of age (mean age 26.2 ± 4.7 years) who were interviewed at 18-22 weeks gestation, median (inter-quartile range) daily intakes of linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid (LA), arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA were 17.6 (13.6; 22.2) g, 1.4 (1.0; 2.0) g, 137 (102; 174) mg, 18 (10; 38) mg, and 55 (37; 99) mg respectively. The median ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFA was 11.8:1. The main dietary contributions to DHA intake were eggs, chicken, and fresh canned fish. Intakes of PUFAs were higher among women who had completed high school (p<0.01). We conclude that intakes of DHA were much lower than recommended values; the high n-6 to n-3 ratio suggests a suboptimal balance of these PUFAs. Very few sources of DHA are commonly eaten.     

IPD meta-analysis shows no effect of LC-PUFA supplementation on infant growth at 18 months

Aim: Clinical trials on the effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) supplementation of formula milk on growth of term and preterm children have shown conflicting results. We examined the effects of LC-PUFAs – especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) – on growth at 18 months.
Methods: We performed a meta-analysis based on individual patient data (IPD) of 901 children from four large, randomised clinical trials of formula milk with and without LC-PUFAs. Anthropometrics were assessed by z-scores based on weight for age, length for age, head circumference for age and body mass index (BMI) for age at 18 months. The studies differed in LC-PUFA composition and infant characteristics (two studies on preterm children, two on term children).
Results: Multivariate regression analyses including the possible confounders, sex, gestational age, birth weight, smoking in the last trimester and maternal age, as well as interaction terms showed no significant effects of LC-PUFA supplementation on any z-score. Subgroup analyses on trials with high amounts of DHA and on studies with duration of supplementation of at least 6 months yielded the same result. These findings cannot be explained by the lack of power.
Conclusion: Our IPD meta-analysis shows no evidence that LC-PUFA supplementation affects children's growth at 18 months of age.     

Composition of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk and growth of young infants in rural areas of northern China

The main source of fat in the diet in rural areas of northern China is soybean oil, therefore the pattern of essential fatty acids in human milk may be assumed to differ from that in milk from women in Western countries and to be similar to that of vegans. The concentrations of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk and information on diet were analysed for 41 lactating women in rural areas of north China, and the growth of their infants was measured. The subjects were divided into two groups (group I, 1 mo postpartum; group II, 3 mo postpartum). The dietary intake of the mothers was high in carbohydrate and low in fat, protein and energy. The concentrations of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) were high. The ratio of LA to LNA, (21.6), was higher than has been reported from other countries. The concentration of docosa-hexaenoic acid (DHA) was low and the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to DHA was much higher (2.8) than recommended and similar to that found in vegans. The concentrations of AA and DHA in the milk correlated positively with the infants' weight gain at the third month (p<0.05) and of DHA with length gain at the first and third months (p<0.01). Since the concentration of AA and, particularly, DHA in the milk declined during lactation, DHA deficiency may appear after 3-4 mo of age in breastfed Chinese rural infants. Further studies of Chinese rural mother-infant pairs are necessary to prove whether supplementation with suitable sources of AA and DHA, such as fish oil, should be recommended as lactation is lengthened to ensure optimal infant growth and development.     

Growth and development of preterm infants fed infant formulas containing docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate safety and benefits of feeding preterm infants formulas containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) until 92 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), with follow-up to 118 weeks PMA. STUDY DESIGN: This double-blinded study of 361 preterm infants randomized across three formula groups: (1) control, no supplementation; (2) algal-DHA (DHA from algal oil, ARA from fungal oil); and (3) fish-DHA (DHA from fish oil, ARA from fungal oil). Term infants breast-fed > or =4 months (n = 105) were a reference group. Outcomes included growth, tolerance, adverse events, and Bayley development scores. RESULTS: Weight of the algal-DHA group was significantly greater than the control group from 66 to 118 weeks PMA and the fish-DHA group at 118 weeks PMA but did not differ from term infants at 118 weeks PMA. The algal-DHA group was significantly longer than the control group at 48, 79, and 92 weeks PMA and the fish-DHA group at 57, 79, and 92 weeks PMA but did not differ from term infants from 79 to 118 weeks PMA. Supplemented groups had higher Bayley mental and psychomotor development scores at 118 weeks PMA than did the control group. Supplementation did not increase morbidity or adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Feeding formulas with DHA and ARA from algal and fungal oils resulted in enhanced growth. Both supplemented formulas provided better developmental outcomes than unsupplemented formulas.     

Maternal dietary omega fatty acid intake and auditory brainstem-evoked potentials in Mexican infants born at term: cluster analysis

OBJECTIVE: To identify biological and socioeconomic factors associated with the neurological development of Mexican infants born at term, as measured by brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cohort study among 76 women with low risk pregnancies recruited in their third trimester of pregnancy and followed their infants until 12 months of age. BAEP tests were conducted on the infants before 3 months of age during physiologic sleep, using 100 msec bipolar clicks. Maternal dietary intake was evaluated by food frequency questionnaire. Two BAEP groups (short latency, long latency) were identified by cluster analysis. The association between BAEP group and maternal PUFAs was estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for socioeconomic and biological factors. RESULTS: Short latency BAEPs were associated with a maternal diet rich in arachidonic acid (OR=3.63, 95% CI 1.23-10.67) after adjusting for age (in days) sex, head circumference and gestational age but was not significantly associated to a maternal diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the importance of arachidonic acid intake during pregnancy for short latency BAEPs and adequate fetal myelination.     

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in Chinese and Swedish mothers: diet, breast milk and infant growth

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are essential dietary nutrients required for the optimal growth and development of infants, particularly of the brain and retina. It is important for exclusively breastfed infants to receive milk of a correct balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. In this study, we compared the composition of LC-PUFAs in the diet and milk of mothers and their infants' growth between Chinese and Swedish. Twenty-three and 19 mother-term infant pairs from a rural area of northern Beijing, China, and Stockholm, Sweden, who were 3 mo old and exclusively breastfed, were studied. The Chinese diet was higher in carbohydrate (17% of energy) but lower in protein (4% of energy) and fat (12% of energy) than the Swedish diet. The intake of Chinese mothers contained more linoleic acid (LA, C(18 ratio 2 omega-6)) and less arachidonic acid (AA, C(20 ratio 4 omega-6)), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C(20 ratio 5 omega-3)) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C(22 ratio 6 omega-3)) than that of Swedish mothers. The breast milk of the Chinese mothers had significantly higher LA and lower EPA and DHA levels than that of the Swedish mothers. However, in Chinese breast milk the AA level was significantly higher than that in Swedish breast milk. The recommended ranges of the ratios of LA to alpha-linolenic acid (LNA, C(18 ratio 3 omega-3)) and of AA to DHA in human milk are 5-10 and 0.5-1 compared with 23.0 and 3.1 in the Chinese breast milk, and 7.5 and 1.6 in the Swedish breast milk, respectively.Conclusion: The diet of the studied Chinese mothers is less balanced with regard to the levels of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) than that of the Swedish mothers, which is also mirrored in the breast milk of these mothers. The clinical relevance of the difference between the levels of LC-PUFAs in the breast milk of Chinese and Swedish mothers may be elucidated by a follow-up study of the cognitive and visual functions of the infants involved.     

Role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the first year of life

The 2 most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in the brain are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), where they have a functional and structural role in infant development. DHA is concentrated in the prefrontal cortex, which is important for association and short-term memory, and in some retinal cells. Concentrations of PUFAs in human breast milk are relatively consistent during the first year of life, and studies have shown that breast-fed infants have a greater mean weight percentage of DHA and a greater proportion of DHA in their red blood cells and brain cortex than formula-fed infants. Furthermore, cortex DHA in breast-fed infants increases with age, probably due to the length of feeding. Maternal supplementation with cod liver oil, which is rich in DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid, improved children's intelligence quotient compared with corn-oil supplementation by 4 years of age. The LCPUFA content of human breast milk is affected by a number of factors, including diet, gestational age, parity, and smoking. Supplementation of formula feed with DHA and ARA results in infant development that is similar to breast-feeding, and may have benefits on blood pressure in later childhood. The beneficial effects of LCPUFA supplementation on visual acuity continue after weaning irrespective of the type of diet. The long-term effects and duration of supplementation of breast- and formula-fed infants requires further investigation.