Early Diet and General Cognitive Outcome at Adolescence in Children Born at or Below 30 Weeks Gestation

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics 2009-08, Vol.155 (2), p.229-234
• Main Authors: Isaacs, Elizabeth B., PhD, Morley, Ruth, MD, Lucas, Alan, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Cohort Studies; Diet; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Female; Follow-Up Studies; General aspects; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant Formula; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intelligence Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Micronutrients - administration & dosage; Pediatrics; Social Class; Trace Elements - administration & dosage; Verbal Behavior
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.02.030

Objective To test the hypothesis that effects of early diet on cognition observed at age 8 years persist in adolescents born preterm at ≤ 30 weeks gestational age. Study design A subgroup from a preterm infant cohort recruited for a randomized trial studying the effects of early dietary intervention was assessed at age 16 years. IQ scores were compared between those assigned a high-nutrient diet (n = 49) or standard-nutrient diet (n = 46) in infancy at both 8 and 16 years. Results At age 8 years, the high-nutrient group had higher mean Verbal IQ (VIQ; P = .03), Performance IQ ( P = .01), and Full-Scale IQ ( P = .02) scores compared with the standard-nutrient group; the VIQ difference persisted at adolescence ( P = .02). This effect was accounted for principally by a significant difference in the mean Verbal Comprehension Index score ( P < .008). Conclusions A brief period of dietary intervention after preterm birth, principally between 26 and 34 weeks of gestation, affected IQ at age 16 years. A standard-nutrient diet was associated with lower VIQ, accounted for mainly by differences in verbal comprehension, which persisted after control of social factors.