Stereoacuity at age 3.5 y in children born full-term is associated with prenatal and postnatal dietary factors: a report from a population-based cohort study

Background: Observational studies suggested that breastfeeding benefits the visual development of preterm children, which has been attributed to the p resence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast milk but not most formula m ilks. Randomized studies showed that preterm children require a dietary sup ply of DHA in the first few weeks of life fur optimal visual development, b ut it is unclear whether full-term children experience similar benefits fro m breast milk or DHA supplements. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare stereoacuity at age 3 .5 y in healthy, full-term children who were breast-fed and in similar chil dren who had not been breast-fed after adjustment fur socioeconomic status and maternal diet. Design: Prospectively collected data on maternal diet during pregnancy (inc luding intake of oily fish), the child's diet, and the socioeconomic status of the family were examined. Stereoacuity at age 3.5 y was assessed. Results: Children who had been breast-fed for 4 mo were more likely to achi eve high-grade stereopsis, or stereoscopic vision, than were children who h ad not been breast-fed (adjusted odds ratio: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.54, 4.97). The mother's antenatal blood DHA content was associated with her intake of oil y fish (P < 0.0001). Children whose mothers ate oily fish during pregnancy were also more likely to achieve high-grade stereopsis than were children w hose mothers did not eat oily fish (adjusted odds ratio: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.00 , 2.45). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that for full-term infants, breast-feeding is associated with enhanced stereopsis at age 3.5 y, as is a maternal DHA-rich antenatal diet, irrespective of later infant feeding pra ctice.