Arachidonic + docosahexaenoic acid cuts risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity by nearly half
Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease the risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants by nearly half, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Web URL: Read this article on Medical Xpress
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
Retinopathy of prematurity (RoP) affects a significant proportion of extremely premature babies - and better treatments are needed, as this condition can cause lifelong blindness or other visual impairment.
This new study confirms and extends previous findings from a groundbreaking randomised controlled trial, showing that supplementation with BOTH omega-6 arachidonic acid AND omega-3 DHA can reduce serious retinal disease by more than half:
Omega-3 DHA is absolutely critical for vision - making up 30-50% of the retina - but trials of DHA alone for RoP have had mixed results. And as with infant formula for term infants, omega-6 AA in ADDITION to omega-3 DHA is needed for optimal outcomes.
Adequatre supplies of BOTH of these long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are needed for early brain development, as Professor Michael Crawford and other experts in fatty acid and lipid metabolism have always emphasised. See:
And for details of this new research, see:
See also:
See also:
- Early life is a critical period, as deficiencies of key nutrients during pregnancy and infancy have lifelong effects on brain development, which increase the risks for a wide range of neurodevelopmental and mental health problems.
And for further articles on the role of nutrition in vision:
04/02/2026 - Lori Solomon
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Arachidonic + docosahexaenoic acid cuts risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity by nearly half
Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease the risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants by nearly half, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Pia Lundgren, M.D., Ph.D., from The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, and colleagues examined which risk factors were influenced by AA and DHA and their association with severe ROP.
The analysis included 177 infants (gestational age,
The researchers found that severe ROP occurred in 37% of infants receiving standard care (34 of 93) versus 19% of those receiving AA and DHA (16 of 84; risk ratio [RR], 0.52). Other morbidities were similar between the groups. No safety issues were reported with supplementation. The risk ratios of potential risk factors for ROP varied from 1.49 to 8.86.
Severe ROP was associated with the following risk factors: thrombocytopenia (RR, 2.40), hyperglycemia (RR, 5.83), patent ductus arteriosus (RR, 2.51), parenteral nutrition for ≥14 days in the first month of life (RR, 8.86), and necrotizing enterocolitis (RR, 2.22).
Infants who received AA and DHA, regardless of presence of evaluated risk factors, had a lessened overall risk for severe ROP (RR, 0.52).
"Our findings highlight the potential importance of AA and DHA for extremely preterm infants to reduce the incidence of severe ROP and preserve vision development," the authors write.
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