Health News: 03.May.03

Supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infancy results in lower blood pressure later in childhood

Introduction

The n-3 and n-6 fatty acids linolenic acid and linoleic acid are precursors of the n-3 and n-6 longchain fatty acids (LCPUFA). Infant formula has historically only contained the precursor fatty acids. Controversy exists over whether LCPUFA are also essential nutrients in infancy. Over the last few years some manufacturers have added LCPUFA to formulae and marketed them as providing an advantage for the development of term infants.

The following abstract summarises the latest evidence, more information can be found on the BMJ Web Site.

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infant formula and blood pressure in later childhood: follow up of a randomised controlled trial

• J S Forsyth, consultant paediatrician a, P Willatts, senior lecturer b, C Agostoni, professor c, J Bissenden, consultant paediatrician d, P Casaer, professor e, G Boehm, director, infant nutrition research f. a Tayside Institute of Child Health, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, b Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, c Department of Paediatrics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, d Department of Paediatrics, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, e Department of Paediatrics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, f Numico Research, Friedrichsdorf, Germany

Correspondence to:

J S Forsyth j.stewart.forsyth@tuht.scot.nhs.uk

Objective:

To determine whether supplementation of infant formula milk with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) influences blood pressure in later childhood.

Design:

Follow up of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Setting:

Four study centres in Europe.

Participants:

147 formula fed children, with a reference group of 88 breastfed children.

Intervention:

In the original trial newborn infants were randomised to be fed with a formula supplemented with LCPUFAs (n=111) or a formula without LCPUFAs but otherwise nutritionally similar (n=126). In the present follow up study the blood pressure of the children at age 6 years was measured.

Main outcome measures:

Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure.

Results:

71 children in the LCPUFA supplementation group (64% of the original group) and 76 children in the non-supplementation group (60%) were enrolled into the follow up study. The LCPUFA group had significantly lower mean blood pressure (mean difference 3.0 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 5.4 mm Hg to 0.5 mm Hg)) and diastolic blood pressure (mean difference 3.6 mm Hg (6.5 mm Hg to 0.6 mm Hg)) than the non-supplementation group. The diastolic pressure of the breastfed children (n=88 (63%)) was significantly lower than that of the non-supplemented formula group but did not differ from the LCPUFA formula group.

Conclusions:

Dietary supplementation with LCPUFAs during infancy is associated with lower blood pressure in later childhood. Blood pressure tends to track from childhood into adult life, so early exposure to dietary LCPUFAs may reduce cardiovascular risk in adulthood.

What is already known on this topic

• Breast milk contains long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and breastfed children have lower blood pressure than children fed with formula milk
• Blood pressure differences in childhood are known to carry through into adulthood
• Dietary omega 3 fatty acid supplementation can lower blood pressure in adults with hypertension

What this paper adds

Supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infancy results in lower blood pressure later in childhood

Read the article at the BMJ

More News