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Defining the LCPUFA requirement of term infants

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Recent Developments in Infant Nutrition

Part of the book series: Tenth Nutricia Symposium ((NUSY,volume 9))

Abstract

Much has been written in both the scientific literature and the lay press about the need for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in the diets of term infants. In part this has been spurred by the finding that preterm infants fed diets containing LCPUFA have better neural development than preterm infants fed unsupplemented diets. Several studies in term infants have produced mixed results. The controversy can be divided into two separate but related topics: first, is there a difference in outcome between breast-fed and formula-fed term infants, and if so, can this be attributed to LCPUFA content or are there other confounding factors? Second, does the addition of LCPUFA to infant formula actually result in a measurable improvement in developmental outcomes? Establishing a need for LCPUFA in the diet of term infants requires adequate proof of causation. This paper examines the evidence relating to this issue with particular reference to the adequacy of the data in establishing this proof.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid, 20:4 n-6

ALA:

α-linolenic acid, 18:3 n-3

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 n-3

GLA:

γ-linolenic acid, 18:3 n-6

LA:

linoleic acid, 18:2 n-6

LCPUFA:

long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid

VEP:

visual evoked potential

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Authors
  1. M. Makrides
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  2. R. A. Gibson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nutricia Research, PO Box 1, 2700 MA, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands

    J. G. Bindels  & A. C. Goedhart  & 

  2. Ghisebrecht Bokellaan 29, 3054 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    H. K. A. Visser

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© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Makrides, M., Gibson, R.A. (1996). Defining the LCPUFA requirement of term infants. In: Bindels, J.G., Goedhart, A.C., Visser, H.K.A. (eds) Recent Developments in Infant Nutrition. Tenth Nutricia Symposium, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1790-3_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1790-3_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7298-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1790-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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