@article{340c631f0b3643c29b76a30d6909cfa6,
title = "The role of n-3 fatty acids in visual and cognitive development; Current evidence and methods of assessment",
abstract = "Low levels of dietary n-3 fatty acids during development lead to changes in the electroretinogram and visual acuity in rats, monkeys, and human infants. Additional aspects of vision can be measured in infants and may provide further useful information about the nature of the changes induced by n-3 fatty acid deficiency and their potential long-term relevance for formula-fed human infants. Several tests are available to assess the development of specific cognitive functions such as visual recognition and short-term memory. These measures can provide information that is not now available to test the hypothesis that n-3 fatty acids are important for other aspects of neural function, including intellectual or cognitive development.",
author = "Martha Neuringer and Sydney Reisbick and Jeri Janowsky",
note = "Funding Information: The retina and brain are rich in n-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). DHA levels are especially high in the outer segment membranes of photoreceptors and in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex. Human milk contains DHA and its precursor, a-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), but current infant formulas in the United States contain only a-linolenic acid, which is not readily converted to DHA by human infants. Thus levels of DHA in plasma, erythrocytes, and the cerebral cortex are lower in infants fed standard formulas than in breast-fed infants. I, 2 Dietary levels of n-3 fatty acids influence retinal function and visual development in rats, monkeys, and human infants. 3{"}12 Because DHA is present in neural membranes throughout the brain, there has been much speculation about its possible role in brain function, particularly in higher cortical function and intellectual development. This article will briefly review the available data, describe methods of assessment, and suggest Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (DK-29930, DK-40566, and RR-00163) (Drs. Neuringer and Reisbick) and the March of Dimes (MOD-0721) (Dr. Janowsky). Reprint requests: Martha Neuringer, PhD, Section of Clinical Nutrition, L465, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR 97201. Copyright {\textregistered} 1994 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0022-3476/94/$3.00 + 0 9/0/59299 future studies to examine the effects of n-3 fatty acid nutrition on visual and cognitive development in human infants.",
year = "1994",
month = nov,
doi = "10.1016/S0022-3476(06)80735-3",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "125",
pages = "S39--S47",
journal = "The Journal of pediatrics",
issn = "0022-3476",
publisher = "Mosby Inc.",
number = "5 PART 2",
}