Protocol for assessing if behavioural functioning of infants born 29 weeks' gestation is improved by omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: Follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction During the last trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain undergoes a rapid growth spurt and accumulates essential nutrients including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This takes place ex-utero for infants born 29 weeks' gestation, without the in-utero provisions of DHA. Infants born 29 weeks' are more likely to experience behavioural and emotional difficulties than their term-born counterparts. It has been hypothesised that supplementing preterm infants with dietary DHA may alleviate insufficiency and subsequently prevent or minimise behavioural problems. This protocol describes a follow-up of infants born 29 weeks gestation who were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of ..