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Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on August 24, 2005
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj069
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Journal of Pediatric Psychology © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received July 12, 2003
Revised April 18, 2004
Accepted July 1, 2004

Brief Report

Brief Report: Newborn Behavior Differs with Decosahexaenoic Acid Levels in Breast Milk

Sybil L. Hart PhD1*, L. Mallory Boylan PhD, RD1, Sebrina R. Carroll MS1, Yvette A. Musick MS1, Connye Kuratko PhD, RD2, Barbara G. Border PhD2, and Richard M. Lampe MD2

1 Texas Tech University
2 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sybil L. Hart, E-mail: sybil.hart{at}ttu.edu


  Abstract

Objective To assess whether natural variations in decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in breast milk would relate to infant neurobehavioral outcomes at the newborn stage following equivocal findings on infant and toddler outcomes of exposure to DHA in formula and breast milk. Methods Breast milk samples from N = 20 mothers were collected 9 days after delivery, while the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered on the infant. Milk samples were later analyzed for fatty acids, including DHA. Results Pearson correlations revealed a positive association between DHA concentrations in breast milk and infants’ scores on the NBAS Range of State cluster score, suggesting that DHA is related to the infant’s superior ability to maintain optimal arousal. Conclusions These results suggest that breast milk DHA is beneficial to the neonate’s neurobehavioral functioning and call for investigative attention to DHA’s role in potentiating optimized intellectual functioning at later stages of development. The findings may also be interpreted as supporting formula supplementation with DHA.

Keywords: breast milk; DHA; fatty acids; NBAS; neonates.
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