LCPs(Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids)
A newborn baby's diet can affect its mental agility at school, Europe's healthcare professionals heard today (December 1).
Dr. Peter Willatts, Senior Lecturer in Development Psychology at the University of Dundee, told the Milupa Infant Nutrition global conference: "LCPs and infant nutrition - can we improve current practice?" of the long-term importance of Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCPs) in the diet during infancy. (LCPs are naturally present in breast milk and available from food sources such as oily fish).
Dr. Willatts discussed a new and unique study, involving 150 children, which had been conducted following a scientific investigation known as the Munich Workshop1 on the role of LCPs during pregnancy, lactation and early life.
In this earlier workshop, a team of eminent international scientists reviewed published global research, and made recommendations for LCP levels in infant milks. They concluded that the LCPs arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are very important for the healthy development of the eyes and brain in the newborn baby and growing infant, and that there may be additional benefits in later childhood.
Several scientists from this Munich Workshop, also speaking at the Symposium, then conducted a follow-up study, the first ever of its type, into the 150 children - who had been fed infant milk with LCPs, from birth to four months. These children were from UK (Dundee & Birmingham), Belgium (Leuven) and Italy (Milan).
The children, from an original study2 where mothers had chosen not to breast feed, and now aged 6 years, had all been fed ready made Milupa Aptamil infant milk, half receiving Milupa Aptamil with LCPs and the other half without.
Speaking from the platform, Dr. Willatts said: "Breastfeeding is best for babies but not always possible. The aim of the latest study was to investigate the long-term effects of using LCPs, particularly to see if there was any difference in speed of taking decisions and IQ of the children in the two groups".
"Both groups were asked to complete a series of tasks involving a succession of picture matching. The children were asked to find a picture identical to the one they were given among several others that were slightly different in colour or design. Both groups had no difficulty in completing the tests, but the group given the LCP supplement from birth were measurably faster in finding the correct images, and other intelligence tests showed them to be more efficient in understanding and solving problems".
Added Willatts, "This could have significant implications for their learning ability at school."
This is the first evidence to confirm the long-term importance of LCPs in the diet during infancy for development of mental abilities in later childhood.
Blood pressure data on the 6 year olds was also examined during the current study, as the researchers are interested in whether the development of other organs in the body benefit from LCP supplementation.
Speaking again, Willatts said "The research group in Dundee are also exploring the possibility that LCP supplementation may, in addition, influence the maturation of other organs in the body at this crucial period of development. Preliminary data from the current study indicate that LCP supplementation during infancy may be associated with lower blood pressure in later childhood".
"These findings are now the subject of further research"
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Breastmilk naturally contains the LCPs docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA).
Breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding for healthy infants.
The amount of LCPs provided to the child through breastfeeding is highly dependent on the mothers diet.
There is a debate around the ability of babies to make their own LCPs from precursors.
Dietary sources of fatty acids include oily fish (such as tuna, salmon and mackerel), flax seeds, soya beans, walnuts and sunflower seeds.
Breastmilk supplies LCPs in two forms and is used by the body for different purposes, these are triglyceride and phospholipids.
Breastfeeding is best for babies. Milupa Infant Milks are intended to replace breastmilk when mothers do not breastfeed. It is recommended that infant milks be used only on the advice of an independent doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian or pharmacist.
1. B. Koletzko, C. Agostoni, S.E. Carlson, T. Clandinin, G. Hornstra, M. Neuringer, R. Uauy, Y. Yamashiro, P. Willatts; "Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and perinatal development; Acta Pædiatrica (April 2001) 90:460-464.
2. J.S. Forsythe, S. Varma, M. Colvin; "A randomised controlled study of the effect of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) supplement on stool hardness during infant milk feeding; Journal of the British Pædiatric Association (1999) 81:253-256.
For further information contact:
Alan Murray/ Anna Harris, MurrayPR, tel. +44 (0)207 544 0016; alan@murraypr.com.