Fatty Acid Supplementation and Socioemotional Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial
Abstract
In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, we tested the effects of DHA + AA supplementation versus placebo for 180 days on caregiver-reported socioemotional development of toddlers born preterm. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children born preterm experience socioemotional difficulties, including increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this secondary analysis, we tested the effect of combined docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) supplementation during toddlerhood on caregiver-reported socioemotional outcomes of children born preterm. We hypothesized that children randomly assigned to DHA + AA would display better socioemotional outcomes compared with those randomly assigned to a placebo. METHODS: Omega Tots was a single-site randomized, fully masked, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. Children (N = 377) were 10 to 16 months at enrollment, born at <35 weeks’ gestation, and assigned to 180 days of daily 200-mg DHA + 200-mg AA supplementation or a placebo (400 mg corn oil). Caregivers completed the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Screening Test–II, Stage 2 at the end of the trial. Liner mixed models and log-binomial regression compared socioemotional outcomes between the DHA + AA and placebo groups. RESULTS: Outcome data were available for 83% of children (ntreatment = 161; nplacebo = 153). Differences between DHA + AA and placebo groups on Brief Infant-Toddler Social…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 377 participants or records.
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