Complexity of understanding the role of dietary and erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the cognitive performance of school-age children.

Background: Early childhood is a period of rapid brain development, with increases in synapses rich in the omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acid, DHA (22:6ω-3) continuing well beyond infancy. Despite the importance of DHA to neural phospholipids, the requirement of dietary DHA for neurodevelopment remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim was to assess the dietary DHA and DHA status of young children, and determine the association with cognitive performance.

A partially hydrolyzed formula with synbiotics supports adequate growth and is well tolerated in healthy, Chinese term infants: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate growth and gastrointestinal tolerance in infants fed a partially hydrolyzed protein formula (pHF) with a synbiotic mixture of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS; 9:1) and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (test formula) compared with an intact protein infant formula (IF) with scGOS/lcFOS (control formula).

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter trial enrolled healthy, fully formula-fed Chinese infants (≤44 d) who received either the test (n = 112) or control formula (n = 112) until 17 wk of age. Fully breastfed infants served as a reference (n = 60).

A Partly Fermented Infant Formula with Postbiotics Including 3'-GL, Specific Oligosaccharides, 2'-FL, and Milk Fat Supports Adequate Growth, Is Safe and Well-Tolerated in Healthy Term Infants: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled, Multi-Country Trial.

This study investigated growth, safety, and tolerance in healthy infants consuming a partly fermented infant formula (IF) with postbiotics, 2'-linked fucosyllactose (2'-FL), a specific prebiotic mixture of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), and milk fat. This double-blind, controlled trial randomised 215 fully IF-fed infants ≤ 14 days of age to either: Test Group (IF) containing 26% fermented formula with postbiotics derived from Lactofidus fermentation process (including 3'-Galactosyllactose; 3'-GL), 0.8 g/100 mL scGOS/lcFOS (9:1), 0.

Fetal DHA inadequacy and the impact on child neurodevelopment: a follow-up of a randomised trial of maternal DHA supplementation in pregnancy.

DHA is an important component of neural lipids accumulating in neural tissue during development. Inadequate DHA in gestation may compromise infant development, but it is unknown whether there are lasting effects. We sought to determine whether the observed effects of fetal DHA inadequacy on infant development persist into early childhood.

Plasma lutein concentrations are related to dietary intake, but unrelated to dietary saturated fat or cognition in young children.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are xanthophyll carotenoids present in highly pigmented vegetables and fruits. Lutein is selectively accumulated in the brain relative to other carotenoids. Recent evidence has linked lutein to cognition in older adults, but little is known about lutein in young children, despite structural brain development.

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in infants before birth identified using a randomized trial of maternal DHA supplementation in pregnancy.

Background: DHA is accumulated in the central nervous system (CNS) before birth and is involved in early developmental processes, such as neurite outgrowth and gene expression.

Objective: To determine whether fetal DHA insufficiency occurs and constrains CNS development in term gestation infants.

Design: A risk reduction model using a randomized prospective study of term gestation single birth healthy infants born to women (n = 270) given a placebo or 400 mg/day DHA from 16 wk gestation to delivery.

Low plasma vitamin B-12 is associated with a lower pregnancy-associated rise in plasma free choline in Canadian pregnant women and lower postnatal growth rates in their male infants.

Background: Choline needs are increased in pregnancy. Choline can be used as a source of methyl for homocysteine remethylation to methionine, but choline synthesis requires methyls from methionine. Vitamin B-12 deficiency increases choline use for homocysteine methylation.

Sources of trans and saturated fatty acids in the diets of Vancouver children.

Purpose: Amounts and sources of trans fatty acids (TFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) were examined in the diets of children aged five to six years after changes in TFA in Canadian foods.

Methods: Dietary intake was assessed for 100 Vancouver children, using three 24-hour recalls during parental interviews. Trans fatty acid and SFA intakes and food sources were determined for each child.

High dietary sodium intake among young children in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Objective: To determine the intake distribution and food sources of sodium among young children.

Methods: Dietary intake was determined for 190 children, 16 months to 6 years of age, using a food frequency questionnaire completed by interviewing a parent. Dietary intake of all nutrients, including dietary sodium, was analyzed.