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Essential fat requirements of preterm infants^1,2,3

¹ From the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, and the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas.

The interest in factors that modify early infant development has led investigators to focus on n–3 and n–6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in the past 2 decades. The presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in breast milk, compared with their absence from infant formulas available in the United States, has prompted clinical trials designed to examine whether LCPUFA enrichment of infant formula has beneficial effects on maturational events of the visual system. These trials have shown significant functional advantages of LCPUFA supplementation for preterm infants, whereas benefits for full-term infants remain controversial. The growth and safety of preterm infants was not compromised by LCPUFA enrichment, although these issues remain to be resolved in clinical trials with full-term infants.

Key Words: Essential fatty acids • docosahexaenoic acid • arachidonic acid • dietary fat • visual function • lipids • marine oil • preterm infants • human milk • breast milk • infant formula • long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

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