A groundbreaking new study, Halved risk for severe retinal disease in extremely premature infants, shows that the right nutritional supplementation can dramatically reduce serious visual impairment in extremely premature (EP) infants (born before 28 weeks' gestation).

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) – a form of retinal damage linked with immaturity of blood vessels – is a well-known complication of early-pre-term birth that can cause permanent visual impairment and, at worst, blindness.

Oral supplementation with both omega-3 DHA and omega AA can reduce by half the number of early pre-term infants with ROP who suffer serious damage to their vision.

These 'groundbreaking' findings validate the pioneering work of Professor Michael Crawford - who flagged more than 20 years ago the need for the nutrition of pre-term infants to be designed to match the AA and DHA content that the placenta would have delivered to them in the critical 3rd trimester had they not been born prematurely.

For the related research article:

• Hellstrom A et al 2021 - Effect of Enteral Lipid Supplement on Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity - A Randomized Clinical Trial

For further information on the importance of both AA and DHA in early life nutrition, see:

• Crawford M 2000 - Placental delivery of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids: implications for the lipid nutrition of preterm infants

• Crawford M et al 2003 - The potential role for arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in protection against some central nervous system injuries in preterm infants

• Crawford M 2015 - The European Food Safety Authority recommendation for polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of infant formula overrules breast milk, puts infants at risk, and should be revised

• Child nutrition experts make case for fatty acid rethink in infant formula

And for further information on the role of nutrition in vision:

• Vision
• Omega-3 and Vision - News
• Omega-3 and Vision - Research

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Events:

1.  Naturally Informed Mental Wellness - FREE virtual conference

• Listen to FREE On Demand content from the Naturally Informed Mental Wellness: Mastering the Market virtual conference that took place January 20-21, 2021. In the opening keynote, Dr Alex Richardson, introduces the role of nutrition in brain development and function, and how diet impacts behaviour, learning, mood and cognitive performance.

2.  FAB and Food for the Brain Online Webinar – available for FREE to all FAB Associate Members

• Title: Latest Evidence and Best Practice for Dietary Approaches to Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  
  A summary of key findings from the latest research into how nutrition and diet are relevant to ASD and related conditions (covering issues such as the roles of sugar, dietary fibre and some food additives in gut, immune and brain health; dietary fats, key vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients), outlining the potential benefits - and risks - of both common dietary patterns and specific nutritional interventions, including ‘exclusion diets’.An understanding of how this evidence can be used in simple, practical and effective ways to improve diet and nutrition in children and adults with ASD.

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This month’s exclusive webinar:

• Latest Evidence and Best Practice for Dietary Approaches to Autistic Spectrum Disorders

• Access to exclusive FAB comments and articles on the FAB website
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• Free or discounted places at select webinars and online workshops that FAB is currently planning for 2021
• And, you will be supporting a charity that is dedicated to providing accessible evidence based information to other researchers, parents/carers, teachers/education professionals and policymakers on the importance of nutrition and diet to brain development and function

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With best wishes

Your FAB Research Team