Takeaway
Enteral arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation lowers the risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by 50% and produces higher overall serum levels of both AA and DHA compared with standard care in extremely preterm infants.
Why this matters
Extremely preterm infants miss the third-trimester transfer of maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids AA and DHA, leading to deficiencies which contribute to multiple morbidities including ROP (neurovascular disease that can cause blindness).
Enteral AA and DHA supplementation may constitute a more physiological and faster-acting option versus standard care for reducing ROP risk in very preterm infants; however, further trials are required for validation and to identify optimal fatty acid composition for this group.