The role of fats in the lifecycle stages: pregnancy and the first year of life

Abstract

Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy has been tested in several trials, with small positive effects on length of gestation; there have been no beneficial or harmful effects on cognitive development or growth of infants as a result of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy. The strongest evidence for good developmental outcomes for infants supports breastfeeding for at least six months. Preterm infants are at the greatest risk of DHA deficiency and there is strong evidence for the positive effects of DHA on visual and cognitive outcomes that has resulted in all Australian preterm formulas being supplemented with DHA. Debate continues about the importance of DHA supplementation for term infants; the current consensus is that the benefits of DHA supplementation in term infants are smaller than for preterm infants.