Postnatal polyunsaturated fatty acids associated with larger preterm brain tissue volumes and better outcomes

Background Human studies investigating the link between postnatal polyunsaturated fatty acids and preterm brain growth are limited, despite emerging evidence of potential effects on outcomes. Methods Sixty preterm neonates <32 weeks gestational age with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning at near-birth and near-term age were assessed for brain tissue volumes, including cortical gray matter, white matter, deep gray matter, cerebellum, brainstem, and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid. Red blood cell fatty acid content was evaluated within 1 week of each MRI scan. Neurodevelopmental outcome at 30–36 months corrected age was assessed. Results Adjusting for potential confounders, higher near-birth docosahexaenoic acid levels are associated with larger cortical gray matter, deep gray matter, and brainstem volumes and higher near-term levels with larger deep gray matter, cerebellar, and brainstem volumes at near-term age; lower near-birth linoleic acid levels are correlated with larger white matter volume at near-term age. By 30–36 months corrected age, larger cortical and deep gray matter, cerebellar, and brainstem volumes by term age are associated with improved language scores and larger cerebellar and brainstem volumes with improved motor scores. Conclusion Specific polyunsaturated fatty acid levels have differential and time-dependent associations with brain region growth. Larger brain volumes are associated with improved outcomes at preschool age.