Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Extremely Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation did not significantly reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants. Across 12 RCTs, pooled BPD risk was RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.82-1.13, in 2809 infants; in the subgroup born at 32 weeks or less, BPD risk was RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.74-1.05, in 1156 infants. Necrotizing enterocolitis in that subgroup showed a non-significant trend toward benefit, RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.23-1.10, in 900 infants. Other key outcomes were also not significantly improved, including neonatal death RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.42-1.38, retinopathy of prematurity RR…

Study & population

Systematic review of trials in preterm infants, with the main population focused on extremely preterm infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation and some analyses restricted to infants born at 32 weeks or less.

Intervention

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid exposure was delivered through several regimens, including enteral formulas or human milk supplementation with DHA and ARA, maternal DHA supplementation affecting breast milk composition, and parenteral lipid emulsions containing fish oil or other omega-3 sources.

Key limitation

Trials used heterogeneous omega-3 sources, doses, routes, and co-nutrients, making the intervention difficult to compare across studies.

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Original abstract