OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS AND VISUAL DEVELOPMENT

人类发育的最后三个月和出生后的最初几个月是 以视网膜和视觉皮层的快速发育为特征。 虽然出生后的视觉功能和敏感性的改善， 异常早期视觉环境的破坏已经广泛地 其他环境变量在人类视觉中的作用 发展问题最近才得到处理。 本研究报告是 旨在评估饮食中omega-3和omega-6的长期影响， 长链多不饱和脂肪酸（LCPUFA）供应视网膜和 低出生体重早产儿和足月儿的脑发育 婴儿。 有高浓度的omega-3和omega-6 LCPUFA 在电活性膜中，特别是在脑突触中， 终端和视网膜光感受器。 因为哺乳动物无法 合成必需脂肪酸（EFA），最佳视网膜和神经 发育取决于子宫内胎盘转移和饮食来源 出生后 此外，新生儿可能有不成熟的限制， 延长/去饱和亲本EFA以形成LCPUFA的能力。 前瞻性 随机接受标准婴儿配方奶粉或 含有二十二碳六烯酸（DHA; 22：6 ω- 3)和DHA加花生四烯酸（AA; 20：4 omega-6）将评估 LCPUFA供应对视网膜和脑成熟的影响 视网膜电图，图形反转视觉诱发电位，强迫- 选择优先看，脑电图研究， 睡眠-觉醒周期和贝利-费根测试 脂肪酸组成 红细胞将被用作神经系统中LCPUFA状态的指标。 组织，并验证饮食依从性。 体外研究将 检查LCPUFA补充对发育中的胎儿的影响， 人类视网膜，并将提供有关DHA作用机制的新信息 AA影响生物学特性和形态学特性。 的 该项目的长期目标是确定营养需求， 人类婴儿视网膜和皮层的最佳发育。 的 在此提出的具体项目将有助于确定 LCPUFAs促进视网膜和皮质发育， 决定是否需要LCPUFA的关键 补充早产儿和/或足月婴儿配方食品。

The last trimester and early postnatal months of human development are characterized by rapid development of the retina and visual cortex. While the postnatal improvement of visual function and sensitivity to disruption by abnormal early visual environments have been extensively studied, the role of other environmental variables in human visual development has only recently been addressed. The present study is designed to evaluate the longterm effects of dietary omega-3 and omega-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supply on retinal and brain development in low birthweight preterm infants and in fullterm infants. There is a high concentration of omega-3 and omega-6 LCPUFAs in electrically active membranes, particularly in brain synaptic terminals and in retinal photoreceptors. Since mammals are unable to synthesize essential fatty acids (EFAs), optimal retinal and neural development depend on placental transfer in utero and on dietary sources postnatally. Moreover, neonates may have immaturities which limit their ability to elongate/desaturate parent EFAs to form LCPUFAs. Prospective studies of infants randomized to standard infant formula or to experimental formulas containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 omega- 3) and DHA plus arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4 omega-6) will evaluate the effects of LCPUFA supply on retinal and brain maturation by means of electroretinograms, pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials, forced- choice preferential looking, electroencephalographic studies of the sleep-wake cycle, and Bayley and Fagan tests. Fatty acid profiles in red blood cells will be used as an index of LCPUFA status in neural tissue and to verify compliance with diet. In vitro studies will examine the effects of LCPUFA supplementation on the developing fetal human retina and will provide new information on mechanisms by which DHA and AA influence biological and morphological characteristics. The longterm goal of this project is to define nutritional requirements for optimal retinal and cortical development of the human infant. The specific projects proposed here will help to characterize the role of LCPUFAs in promoting retinal and cortical development and will be crucial in determining whether there is a need for LCPUFA supplementation of preterm and/or term infant formula.