LCPUFA Supplementation: A Multi-Modality Imaging Study

Kathleen Gustafson, Ph.D.

Status: Completed

Conditions: Child Development

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT02076048

LCPUFA Supplementation

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to take images of the brain in order to see if long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) exposure during infancy influences brain structure and function in middle childhood.

Full description

LCPUFAs are essential fatty acids that are found in all cells of the body, particularly in the brain, retina and other nervous tissue. LCPUFAs are found naturally in seeds, nuts, fish and human breast milk. The body can also make LCPUFAs from shorter-chain fatty acid precursors.

The researchers in the study have previously found that LCPUFA supplementation during infancy has a beneficial effect on vision and development in the early years of life. However, researchers feel there is a growing need to better understand if there are structural and/or functional changes in the brain that explain these benefits. It is also important to understand if changes in development are still present later in childhood.

Enrollment: 42 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parents consent for children and children have the ability to assent
• Participation as an infant in the original study

Exclusion criteria

• Those with orthodontic braces or extensive dental work that would make them unable to have an MRI

Trial design

42 participants in 1 patient group

Previous LCPUFA Supplementation

Description:

Children between the ages of 7 and 10 that were previously enrolled in a study of supplemented LCPUFA formula.