Visual Evoked Potentials in Infants after Dietary Supply of Docosahexaenoic Acid and 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate during Pregnancy

The effect of maternal omega-3 (n-3) LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy on early childhood cognitive and visual development: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Likewise, no effect was found on flash or pattern VEP at 1-5 (52). Two trials reported more advantageous visual outcomes in the treatment than in the control groups, which included a smaller minimal angle of resolution at 2 mo but only when both DHA-supplemented groups were compared with both non-DHA-supplemented groups (27) and Teller Acuity at 4 mo (47).…”

“…6) Not all known data were available from the study authors for inclusion in the review (12,27,29,30,34). 7) Supplementation took place during pregnancy and lactation in some trials, which made it difficult to determine the period during which supplementation is effective if a benefit is found.…”

“…Such postrandomization exclusions and attrition can contribute to systematic loss to follow-up and, in the reviewed trials, increased the risk of bias associated with the already small and underpowered samples (12, 29, 38, 41-43, 45, 46). Furthermore, publication bias may have been present because several trials were not published in full (12,27,29,30,34), and most of these trials reported null findings according to the available abstracts (27,29,30). Most of the trials adequately blinded the participants and the assessors of outcomes to minimize the risk of bias.…”

Scientific Opinion on health benefits of seafood (fish and shellfish) consumption in relation to health risks associated with exposure to methylmercury

“…The results from these studies could not be combined in a meta-analysis because of the variety of different assessments and age ranges. No significant differences between infants in the supplement and control groups were found for visual acuity measured by Teller cards at two months (Innis and Friesen, 2008) or six months (Judge et al, 2007), ERG at one week (Malcolm et al, 2003a), visual acuity measured by sweep VEP at four months (Smithers et al, 2011), flash or pattern VEP at 1-5 days, two months or six months (Malcolm et al, 2003b), or VEP latency or amplitude at two months (Broekaert et al, 2005), three months or six months (Stein et al, 2012). One trial reported better visual acuity measured by Teller cards at four months (Judge et al, 2007).…”

“…One trial reported better visual acuity measured by Teller cards at four months (Judge et al, 2007). One trial included two additional groups which received n-3 LCPUFA or placebo in combination with 400 μg 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), and reported better visual acuity at two months when both n-3 LCPUFA supplemented groups (with or without 5-MTHF) were compared to both control groups (with or without 5-MTHF) (Broekaert et al, 2005).…”