Abstract
The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) occur in high levels in the brain and play a key role in brain growth and the operation of neurotransmitters. Infants supplemented with DHA show improved language and communication skills, and there is accumulating evidence that the early development of executive functions such as planning, working memory, and attention control are influenced by LC-PUFAs, especially DHA. Several studies have found significantly improved means-end problem solving at 9 and 10 months in infants given DHA-/ARA-supplemented formula, and similar results were shown for infants whose mothers were supplemented with DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Long-term benefits of LC-PUFA supplementation in infancy have been reported in children aged 3-6 years. Follow-up studies of infants given DHA-/ARA-supplemented versus control formula have shown better performance on tests of impulsivity and attention control in the supplemented children, with indications of a dose-response relationship for DHA. LC-PUFAs (especially DHA) in postnatal infant diet influence the development of executive functions and other higher-order cognitive abilities, and have a long-term influence on the development of attention and information processing in later childhood.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Recent Research in Nutrition and Growth |
| Editors | John Colombo, Berthold Koletzko, Michelle Lampl |
| Place of Publication | Switzerland |
| Publisher | Karger |
| Pages | 175-184 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Volume | 89 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783318063523 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783318063516 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Publication series
| Name | Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series |
|---|---|
| ISSN (Print) | 1664-2147 |
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Effects of Nutrition on the Development of Higher-Order Cognition. / Willatts, Peter (Lead / Corresponding author).
Recent Research in Nutrition and Growth. ed. / John Colombo; Berthold Koletzko; Michelle Lampl. Vol. 89 Switzerland : Karger, 2018. p. 175-184 (Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed)
TY - CHAP
T1 - Effects of Nutrition on the Development of Higher-Order Cognition
AU - Willatts, Peter
N1 - © 2018 Nestlé Nutrition Institute, Switzerland/S. Karger AG, Basel.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) occur in high levels in the brain and play a key role in brain growth and the operation of neurotransmitters. Infants supplemented with DHA show improved language and communication skills, and there is accumulating evidence that the early development of executive functions such as planning, working memory, and attention control are influenced by LC-PUFAs, especially DHA. Several studies have found significantly improved means-end problem solving at 9 and 10 months in infants given DHA-/ARA-supplemented formula, and similar results were shown for infants whose mothers were supplemented with DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Long-term benefits of LC-PUFA supplementation in infancy have been reported in children aged 3-6 years. Follow-up studies of infants given DHA-/ARA-supplemented versus control formula have shown better performance on tests of impulsivity and attention control in the supplemented children, with indications of a dose-response relationship for DHA. LC-PUFAs (especially DHA) in postnatal infant diet influence the development of executive functions and other higher-order cognitive abilities, and have a long-term influence on the development of attention and information processing in later childhood.
AB - The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) occur in high levels in the brain and play a key role in brain growth and the operation of neurotransmitters. Infants supplemented with DHA show improved language and communication skills, and there is accumulating evidence that the early development of executive functions such as planning, working memory, and attention control are influenced by LC-PUFAs, especially DHA. Several studies have found significantly improved means-end problem solving at 9 and 10 months in infants given DHA-/ARA-supplemented formula, and similar results were shown for infants whose mothers were supplemented with DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Long-term benefits of LC-PUFA supplementation in infancy have been reported in children aged 3-6 years. Follow-up studies of infants given DHA-/ARA-supplemented versus control formula have shown better performance on tests of impulsivity and attention control in the supplemented children, with indications of a dose-response relationship for DHA. LC-PUFAs (especially DHA) in postnatal infant diet influence the development of executive functions and other higher-order cognitive abilities, and have a long-term influence on the development of attention and information processing in later childhood.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051065494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000486501
DO - 10.1159/000486501
M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)
SN - 9783318063516
VL - 89
T3 - Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series
SP - 175
EP - 184
BT - Recent Research in Nutrition and Growth
A2 - Colombo, John
A2 - Koletzko, Berthold
A2 - Lampl, Michelle
PB - Karger
CY - Switzerland
ER -