EFFECT OF DIETARY OMEGA-3-FATTY-ACIDS ON RETINAL FUNCTION OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT NEONATES

Retinal function was assessed by electrore-tinogram in 32 neonates randomly assigned to formulas of different ω-3 fatty acid content and in 10 infants fed human milk. All neonates had a birth weight of 1000-1500 g and were fed study diets from d 10 to 45 or discharge. Group A received formula containing predominantly 18:2 ω-6. Group B received a balanced mix of 18:2 ω-6 and 18:3 ω-3. Group C was given a formula containing both essential fatty acids and supplemented with marine oil to provide 22:6 ω-3 content similar to that of human milk. The fatty acid composition of plasma and red blood cell (RBC) lipids were similar for all groups on entry but marked diet-induced differences were found after feeding the study diets. Group C was comparable to the human milk-fed group, but group A had lower 22:6 ω-3 and ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in plasma and RBC membranes. Cone function was not affected by dietary essential fatty acids. Rod electroretinogram thresholds were significantly higher for group A relative to the human milk-fed group and group C and significantly correlated with RBC ω-3 LCPUFA (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001); 44% of the variance could be explained by RBC and plasma ω-3 LCPUFA content. Rod electroretinogram amplitude was significantly lower for group A relative to the human milk-fed group and group C and related to plasma 22:6 ω-3 (r = 0.55) and total ω-3 LCPUFA (r = 0.58) (both p < 0.0001); 42% of the variance was explained by plasma ω-3 LCPUFA, the ratio of ω-6/ω-3 LCPUFA in RBC, and gestational age at birth. Our results support an essential role for ω-3 fatty acids in retinal development. © 1990 International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.