Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34392310›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2021

Serum docosahexaenoic acid levels are associated with brain volumes in extremely preterm born infants.

Lisa M Hortensius, William Hellström, Karin Sävman, Rolf A Heckemann, Isabella M Björkman-Burtscher, Floris Groenendaal, Mats X Andersson, Anders K Nilsson, Maria Luisa Tataranno, Ruurd M van Elburg and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
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  5. Article
  6. Early parenteral lipid intake supports cerebellar neurometabolism at term-age in preterm infants.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2025
    Observational
  7. Article
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  11. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Lisa M Hortensius *Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
William Hellström *Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Karin SävmanDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Rolf A HeckemannDepartment of Medical Radiation Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Isabella M Björkman-BurtscherDepartment of Radiology, Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Floris GroenendaalDepartment of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Mats X AnderssonDepartment of Biology and Environmental Sciences, The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Anders K NilssonSection for Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Maria Luisa TatarannoDepartment of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Ruurd M van ElburgDepartment of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Ann HellströmSection for Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Manon J N L BendersDepartment of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.benders@umcutrecht.nl.
University of Gothenburg · SEUniversity Medical Center Utrecht · NLUtrecht University · NLRegion Västra Götaland · SEWilhelmina Children's Hospital · NL

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/L01632X/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are important for fetal brain growth and development. Our aim was to evaluate the association between serum DHA and AA levels and brain volumes in extremely preterm infants.

methodsInfants born at <28 weeks gestational age in 2013-2015, a cohort derived from a randomized controlled trial comparing two types of parenteral lipid emulsions, were included (n = 90). Serum DHA and AA levels were measured at postnatal days 1, 7, 14, and 28, and the area under the curve was calculated. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed at term-equivalent age (n = 66), and volumes of six brain regions were automatically generated.

resultsAfter MR image quality assessment and area under the curve calculation, 48 infants were included (gestational age mean [SD] 25.5 [1.4] weeks). DHA levels were positively associated with total brain (B = 7.966, p = 0.012), cortical gray matter (B = 3.653, p = 0.036), deep gray matter (B = 0.439, p = 0.014), cerebellar (B = 0.932, p = 0.003), and white matter volume (B = 3.373, p = 0.022). AA levels showed no association with brain volumes.

conclusionsSerum DHA levels during the first 28 postnatal days were positively associated with volumes of several brain structures in extremely preterm infants at term-equivalent age. IMPACT: Higher serum levels of DHA in the first 28 postnatal days are positively associated with brain volumes at term-equivalent age in extremely preterm born infants. Especially the most immature infants suffer from low DHA levels in the first 28 postnatal days, with little increase over time. Future research is needed to explore whether postnatal fatty acid supplementation can improve brain development and may serve as a nutritional preventive and therapeutic treatment option in extremely preterm infants.

Indexed as

Infant, Extremely PrematureArachidonic AcidBrainCohort StudiesDocosahexaenoic AcidsFemaleGestational AgeHumansInfant, NewbornMaleOrgan SizeArachidonic AcidDocosahexaenoic Acids

Identifiers

PMID34392310
OpenAlexW3194219225

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.