[Influence of Feeding Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Children's Health]

Milk formulae for term-born infants supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) resulted in DHA concentration in the red cells comparable to values observed in breast-fed infants without influence on visual acuity. Prematurely born infants fed with DHA supplemented formulae achieved visual acuity faster than the non-supplemented control group. The influence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) on visual and cognitive functions may justify their use if the safety criteria are met. LC-PUFA formulae for low birth weigh infants must contain appropriate concentration of the fatty acids with antyoxidative factors: vitamin E and vitamin C.