HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Williams, C. Articles by Northstone, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Williams, C. Articles by Northstone, K. Agricola Articles by Williams, C. Articles by Northstone, K.

Stereoacuity at age 3.5 y in children born full-term is associated with prenatal and postnatal dietary factors: a report from a population–based cohort study^1,2,3

¹ From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas; and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.

Background: Observational studies suggested that breast-feeding benefits the visual development of preterm children, which has been attributed to the presence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast milk but not most formula milks. Randomized studies showed that preterm children require a dietary supply of DHA in the first few weeks of life for optimal visual development, but it is unclear whether full-term children experience similar benefits from breast milk or DHA supplements.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare stereoacuity at age 3.5 y in healthy, full-term children who were breast-fed and in similar children who had not been breast-fed after adjustment for socioeconomic status and maternal diet.

Design: Prospectively collected data on maternal diet during pregnancy (including intake of oily fish), the child's diet, and the socioeconomic status of the family were examined. Stereoacuity at age 3.5 y was assessed.

Results: Children who had been breast-fed for 4 mo were more likely to achieve high-grade stereopsis, or stereoscopic vision, than were children who had not been breast-fed (adjusted odds ratio: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.54, 4.97). The mother's antenatal blood DHA content was associated with her intake of oily fish (P < 0.0001). Children whose mothers ate oily fish during pregnancy were also more likely to achieve high-grade stereopsis than were children whose mothers did not eat oily fish (adjusted odds ratio: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.45).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that for full-term infants, breast-feeding is associated with enhanced stereopsis at age 3.5 y, as is a maternal DHA-rich antenatal diet, irrespective of later infant feeding practice.

Key Words: Stereoacuity • breast-feeding • docosahexaenoic acid • DHA • oily fish intake • visual development • antenatal diet • full-term children • preterm children

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. B. Helland, L. Smith, B. Blomen, K. Saarem, O. D. Saugstad, and C. A. Drevon Effect of Supplementing Pregnant and Lactating Mothers With n-3 Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acids on Children's IQ and Body Mass Index at 7 Years of Age Pediatrics, August 1, 2008; 122(2): e472 - e479. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R Rudnicka, C. G Owen, M. Richards, M. E. Wadsworth, and D. P Strachan Effect of breastfeeding and sociodemographic factors on visual outcome in childhood and adolescence Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2008; 87(5): 1392 - 1399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J A Dunstan, K Simmer, G Dixon, and S L Prescott Cognitive assessment of children at age 21/2 years after maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., January 1, 2008; 93(1): F45 - F50. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Singhal, R. Morley, T. J Cole, K. Kennedy, P. Sonksen, E. Isaacs, M. Fewtrell, A. Elias-Jones, T. Stephenson, and A. Lucas Infant nutrition and stereoacuity at age 4-6 y Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 152 - 159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L Jensen Effects of n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2006; 83(6): S1452 - 1457S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C McCann and B. N Ames Is docosahexaenoic acid, an n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, required for development of normal brain function? An overview of evidence from cognitive and behavioral tests in humans and animals Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 281 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-S. Chong, Y. Liang, D. Tan, G. Gazzard, R. A. Stone, and S.-M. Saw Association Between Breastfeeding and Likelihood of Myopia in Children JAMA, June 22, 2005; 293(24): 3001 - 3002. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Leary, A. Ness, P. Emmett, G. Davey Smith, and ALSPAC Study Team Maternal diet in pregnancy and offspring height, sitting height, and leg length J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2005; 59(6): 467 - 472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. Hoffman, R. C. Theuer, Y. S. Castaneda, D. H. Wheaton, R. G. Bosworth, A. R. O'Connor, S. E. Morale, L. E. Wiedemann, and E. E. Birch Maturation of Visual Acuity Is Accelerated in Breast-Fed Term Infants Fed Baby Food Containing DHA-Enriched Egg Yolk J. Nutr., September 1, 2004; 134(9): 2307 - 2313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Rogers, P Emmett, A Ness, and J Golding Maternal fish intake in late pregnancy and the frequency of low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation in a cohort of British infants J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2004; 58(6): 486 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. K. Lutter and J. A. Rivera Nutritional Status of Infants and Young Children and Characteristics of Their Diets J. Nutr., September 1, 2003; 133(9): 2941S - 2949. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D Carver Advances in nutritional modifications of infant formulas Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2003; 77 (6): 1550S - 1554S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. B. Helland, L. Smith, K. Saarem, O. D. Saugstad, and C. A. Drevon Maternal Supplementation With Very-Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy and Lactation Augments Children's IQ at 4 Years of Age Pediatrics, January 1, 2003; 111(1): e39 - 44. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Williams, K Northstone, R A Harrad, J M Sparrow, I Harvey, and ALSPAC Study Team Amblyopia treatment outcomes after screening before or at age 3 years: follow up from randomised trial BMJ, June 29, 2002; 324(7353): 1549 - 1549. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E Birch, D. R Hoffman, Y. S Castaneda, S. L Fawcett, D. G Birch, and R. D Uauy A randomized controlled trial of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of formula in term infants after weaning at 6 wk of age Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2002; 75(3): 570 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]