Enteral Supplementation With Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid (DHA-AA) in Preterm Infants

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) have a critical effect on the health and neuronal development of the fetus and newborn. Their deficiency has been associated with increased neonatal morbidity, especially in preterm newborns at birth. Direct DHA supplementation during the first few weeks of life could prevent this deficiency. The aim is to increase DHA levels in the red blood cell membrane while maintaining the fetal proportion to AA in preterm infants through enteral administration of DHA/AA in a safe, tolerated, and effective manner. This approach aims to avoid the decline in DHA/AA levels and the consequences of their deficiency. The study is a single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label study involving preterm infants admitted to the Neonatology Department of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona.