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Trial Lecture – time and place
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Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Senior Consultant Wes Onland, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Second opponent: Professor Isabelle Marc, Laval University, Canada
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor II Anne Flem Jacobsen, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Associate Professor Hans Christian Erichsen Landsverk, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Senior doctor Sissel Jennifer Moltu, OUS - Oslo University Hospital
Summary
Infants born extremely preterm are at high risk of developing inflammation-related diseases. The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are precursors of signal molecules with a key role in resolving inflammation.
The aim of the thesis was to determine the effect of neonatal ARA and DHA supplementation on inflammation, respiratory outcomes, and inflammation-related morbidity in preterm infants.
We randomly assigned 121 infants born before 29 weeks of gestation to receive a daily ARA and DHA supplement or medium chain triglycerides (control group) from birth to 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Study outcomes included inflammatory markers in blood samples, respiratory outcomes during hospital stay, inflammation-related morbidity up to 36 weeks PMA, and lung function outcomes at 3 months corrected age (CA).
Infants in the ARA:DHA group had lower levels of inflammatory markers and fewer days on respiratory support during hospital stay compared to the control group. Rates of inflammation-related morbidities at 36 weeks PMA were similar in the two study groups. Lung function outcomes did not differ between the study groups at 3 months CA. No adverse effects of the fatty acid supplementation were reported.
Our findings suggest that neonatal ARA and DHA supplementation to preterm infants at doses matching intrauterine accretion rates is safe and may have beneficial effects on inflammation and short-term respiratory outcomes.
Additional information
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