Diffusion tensor imaging and behavior in premature infants at 8 years of age, a randomized controlled trial with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

•Very low birth weight (VLBW) children have increased risk of behavioral problems.•Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the premature brain shows reduced white matter maturation.•The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are hypothesized to improve both myelination and behavioral outcome.•This 8year follow-up study of an RCT with postnatal DHA/AA-supplementation to VLBW infants is the first report on both brain microstructure measured by DTI and behavioral outcomes.•No significant effects of the supplementation were detected at 8years of age.