ARA and DHA may improve brain maturation in immature infants, Finds study
According to recent findings, it has been seen that supplementation of ARA and DHA has the potential to improve brain maturation and reduce inflammation related diseases.
The study is published in the BMC Pediatrics.
Improvements in neonatal care have led to rising survival rates of extremely premature born infants. However, the rate of severe medical disabilities increases significantly with decreasing GA and preventive measures to reduce neurodevelopmental sequelae, postnatal growth failure and inflammatory mediated diseases are most wanted. ARA and DHA are considered essential during early development and studies suggest that supplementation with ARA and DHA has structural effects on brain growth and maturation and reduce severity of BPD, ROP, NEC and WMI by affecting the immune response.
Current nutritional management of infants born very preterm results in significant deficiency of the essential fatty acids (FAs) arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The impact of this deficit on brain maturation and inflammation mediated neonatal morbidities are unknown.
Therefore, Kristina Wendel and associates from the Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway conducted the study with the to determine whether early supply of ARA and DHA improves brain maturation and neonatal outcomes in infants born before 29 weeks of gestation.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.