DHA and ARA supplementation may reduce retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), study shows
With the advancement of medicine, the survival rate of premature babies has been greatly improved, and even today, the complications of premature birth are still relatively common. One such complication is retinopathy of prematurity or ROP for short. Eye disease is caused by the abnormal development of blood vessels in the retina that can lead to blindness in severe cases, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most common causes of vision loss in childhood. Even if retinopathy of prematurity is only partially severed, once it occurs, it can have devastating lifelong effects on the baby.
The study by Dr. Hellstrom and colleagues outlines a new approach to reducing the risk of severe ROP in very preterm infants by supplementing with eicosatetraenoic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Its "Effect of enteral lipid supplementation on severe retinopathy of prematurity: a randomized clinical trial" is documented on the American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33523106/.
There is growing scientific evidence that DHA, the omega-3 family of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and ARA, the omega-6 family of fatty acids, play a key role in brain and eye development, as well as immune function in early life. The scientists also pointed out that a lack of fatty acids may increase the risk of cell membrane damage and interfere with normal blood vessel function. Even more regrettably, the deficiency of these fatty acids plays a negative role in the development of retinopathy of prematurity.
During the last trimester of pregnancy, DHA and ARA are selectively transferred from the mother to the unborn baby. If the baby is born prematurely at this time, the critical moment for the important absorption of DHA and ARA will be lost. As a result, preterm infants have lower levels of DHA and ARA, fatty acids that are critical for healthy retina and brain development and function, compared to term infants. Low blood DHA and ARA levels are associated with an increased risk of certain neonatal diseases, such as chronic lung disease, late-onset sepsis, and ROP.
In this study, Dr. Hellstrom and colleagues assessed the effects of DHA and ARA supplementation on the incidence of severe retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants less than 28 weeks of gestation. It found that treatment with both ARA and DHA reduced the risk of severe ROP by 50% compared to standard of care. In addition, blood levels of DHA and ARA were significantly increased in infants who received the supplement. The important thing is to be safe enough with no obvious adverse effects.
In breast milk, ARA and DHA are always present together. Pediatric nutrition experts recommend adding effective amounts of ARA and DHA to infant formula. What is particularly critical is the level and proportion of ARA and DHA, which are important prerequisites for the efficacy of both. It should be added that the content of ARA is greater than or equal to the daily supplementary amount of DHA, which is not less than 1:1 and not more than 2:1.
ZUBR® baby patent DHA/ARA is based on the latest research results, and the raw materials come from the Royal DSM of the Netherlands. The choice of DHA products, provides new parents with a more scientific and high-quality choice. ARA and DHA are formulated in a 1:1 ratio (ARA is much more expensive than DHA), and the content of each capsule is 120mg. Pregnant mothers can increase the number of supplements every day. Compared with the single DHA on the market, DHA products with ARA will be more widely recognized.