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Ren Q, Zhu X, Pan J, Li K, Zhou Y, Lyu Y, Xie Q, Xu Y. A combination of phospholipids and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids supports neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1358651. [PMID: 38938667 PMCID: PMC11208465 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1358651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Phospholipids (PLs) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are naturally present in breast milk and play important roles in promoting the growth of the infant. Several studies have investigated the effects of the combination of PLs and LCPUFAs on neurodevelopment. However, data on the effectiveness of infant formula containing both PLs and LCPUFAs on the neurodevelopment of infants is still scarce. This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study was designed to evaluate the effect of an infant formula enriched with PLs and LCPUFAs on growth parameters and neurodevelopmental outcomes in term infants up to 365 days of age. Infants were enrolled within 30 days of birth who were then randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 150) or an investigational group (n = 150). Both groups consist of cow's milk-based formula which were generally identical in terms of composition, except that the investigational formula was additionally supplemented with PLs and LCPUFAs. The infants were followed for the first year of life. Breastfed infants were the reference (n = 150). Bayley Scales of Infant Development [3rd edition (Bayley-III)], Carey Toddler Temperament Scales (TTS), MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI), Single Object Attention and Free Play Tasks were used to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes of infant at 365 days of age. In addition, Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) were also conducted at 120, 180, and 275 days of age. Compared to breastfeeding, both infant formulas were well-tolerated and provided adequate growth, with no adverse events being reported throughout the study. Infants of the investigational group showed higher mean scores in Bayley-III cognitive performance (104.3 vs. 99.0, p < 0.05), language (106.9 vs. 104.5, p < 0.05), and motor skills (109.2 vs. 103.9, p < 0.05) compared the control group. Similar results were being reported for other developmental scales including TTS and ASQ. Notably, the test scores of infants fed the investigational formula were similar to those who were breastfed. Our results indicate that PL and LCPUFA supplementation may be beneficial for neurodevelopment of infants throughout the first year of life. Further studies are needed to investigation long-term effects PL and LCPUFA on neurodevelopment in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Ren
- Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhu
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiancun Pan
- Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
| | - Kaifeng Li
- Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
| | - Yalin Zhou
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Lyu
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinggang Xie
- Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
| | - Yajun Xu
- PKUHSC-China Feihe Joint Research Institute of Nutrition and Healthy Lifespan Development, Beijing, China
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Panagiotou G, Taylor PN, Rees DA, Okosieme OE. Late offspring effects of antenatal thyroid screening. Br Med Bull 2022; 143:16-29. [PMID: 35868487 DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring outcomes and recent birth-cohort studies suggest that even mild degrees of thyroid dysfunction may be linked with a range of late cognitive and behavioural effects in childhood and adolescence. SOURCES OF DATA This review summarizes recent literature of observational studies and critically appraises randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of antenatal thyroid screening and Levothyroxine intervention. AREAS OF AGREEMENT Overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism carry significant risks for unfavourable offspring outcomes and should be appropriately corrected in pregnancy. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY The significance of subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinaemia is still unclear. Meta-analyses of birth-cohort studies show associations of maternal subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinaemia with intellectual deficits, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders, while hyperthyroidism and high-normal FT4 were linked with ADHD. RCTs have shown no benefits of screening on neurodevelopmental outcomes although Levothyroxine could have been initiated too late in pregnancy in these trials. GROWING POINTS A small number of studies have shown inconsistent associations of maternal thyroid dysfunction with offspring cardiometabolic indices including blood pressure and body weight. Correction of maternal thyroid dysfunction was, however, associated with favourable long-term metabolic profiles in mothers, including lipid profiles, fat mass and body mass index. Antenatal thyroid screening may therefore present opportunities for optimizing a wider range of outcomes than envisaged. AREAS FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH Future trials with early antenatal thyroid screening and intervention are necessary to clarify the impact of screening on late offspring and maternal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter N Taylor
- Thyroid Research Group, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - D Aled Rees
- Thyroid Research Group, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Onyebuchi E Okosieme
- Thyroid Research Group, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,Diabetes Department, Prince Charles Hospital, Cwm Taf University Health Board, Gurnos Estate, Merthyr Tydfil, UK
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