Researchers studied 87 premature babies in the hospital to see if a special type of nutrition liquid containing fish oil could help prevent eye problems that sometimes happen in premature infants. Babies who received the fish oil-based nutrition showed better results, including faster ability to eat regular food and fewer babies needing eye surgery. The study suggests that this special nutrition might protect premature babies’ eyes, though doctors say more research is needed to be completely sure.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether giving premature babies a special nutrition liquid containing fish oil (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) could reduce serious eye problems that sometimes develop in premature infants
  • Who participated: 87 premature babies admitted to intensive care between 2019 and 2022. One group of 41 babies received fish oil-based nutrition, while 46 babies received standard nutrition without fish oil
  • Key finding: Babies receiving fish oil-based nutrition had fewer cases of severe eye problems and needed fewer eye surgeries compared to the other group. They also started eating regular food faster
  • What it means for you: If you have a premature baby in the hospital, this research suggests that fish oil-based nutrition might be helpful for protecting their eyes. However, talk with your baby’s doctors about whether this is right for your situation, as more research is still needed

The Research Details

This was a retrospective cohort study, which means researchers looked back at medical records of babies who had already been treated. They compared two groups of premature babies: one group that received nutrition with fish oil (high in omega-3 fatty acids) and another group that received standard nutrition without fish oil. The babies weren’t randomly assigned to groups—instead, they received whatever nutrition protocol the hospital was using at the time they were admitted. Researchers measured the babies’ blood levels of important fatty acids on their first day in the hospital and again after 14 days. They then tracked whether the babies developed eye problems and how quickly they recovered.

This research approach is important because it looks at real-world hospital practice and actual patient outcomes. By comparing two different nutrition approaches used in the same hospital setting, researchers could see if the type of nutrition babies received made a real difference in preventing serious eye problems. This type of study helps doctors understand which treatments might work best for premature babies.

This study has some strengths: it tracked specific blood measurements and compared clear outcomes like eye surgery rates. However, there are limitations to keep in mind. The babies weren’t randomly assigned to groups, which means other differences between the groups might have affected the results. The sample size of 87 babies is relatively small, and the study only looked at one hospital over a few years. These factors mean the results are promising but not definitive proof that fish oil nutrition prevents eye problems in all premature babies.

What the Results Show

When researchers checked the babies’ blood on day 14 of nutrition, the fish oil group had significantly higher levels of DHA (a type of omega-3 fat) and lower levels of AA (another type of fat) compared to the other group. This shows that the fish oil-based nutrition was actually changing the babies’ blood chemistry in the expected way. The fish oil group also reached full feeding (eating enough food without IV nutrition) faster than the other group, which is important for babies’ recovery. Most importantly, while both groups had similar rates of mild eye problems, the fish oil group had fewer cases of severe eye problems and significantly fewer babies needed eye surgery. The fish oil group also had better liver function, with lower levels of liver enzymes, suggesting the nutrition was gentler on their bodies.

Other measurements like how quickly babies regained their birth weight and how long they needed breathing machines showed no significant differences between the groups. This suggests that the fish oil nutrition’s main benefit was specifically for eye health and feeding progress, rather than affecting overall recovery in other ways. The fact that liver function was better in the fish oil group is also noteworthy, as it suggests this type of nutrition may be safer for premature babies’ developing organs.

Previous research has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids (like those found in fish oil) might be beneficial for eye development in premature babies. This study provides more specific evidence that fish oil-based nutrition may actually reduce the need for eye surgery. However, this is one of the first studies to show this clear benefit, so it adds important new information to what doctors know about nutrition for premature babies.

The study has several important limitations. First, babies weren’t randomly assigned to receive different nutrition types—they got whatever the hospital was using when they arrived. This means other factors we don’t know about might have affected the results. Second, the study only included 87 babies from one hospital, which is a relatively small group. Third, researchers only looked at babies’ records after they were already in the hospital, so they couldn’t control for differences that might have existed before admission. Finally, the study only lasted a few years at one location, so results might be different in other hospitals or time periods. These limitations mean the findings are promising but need to be confirmed by larger, more carefully controlled studies.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, fish oil-based nutrition for premature babies appears promising for reducing severe eye problems and the need for eye surgery (moderate confidence level). However, because this is one study from one hospital, doctors should consider this as one piece of evidence rather than definitive proof. Parents of premature babies should discuss with their medical team whether fish oil-based nutrition is appropriate for their baby’s specific situation. The research suggests potential benefits, but more studies are needed before making this a standard practice everywhere.

This research is most relevant to parents of premature babies in intensive care, neonatologists (doctors who specialize in newborn care), and hospital nutrition specialists. It’s particularly important for babies born very early (before 32-34 weeks), as they have the highest risk of developing serious eye problems. This research is less relevant to parents of full-term babies, as they rarely develop this eye condition.

In this study, researchers looked at eye problems at 4 and 6 weeks after birth. Benefits like faster feeding appeared within the first 14 days of nutrition. If fish oil-based nutrition is used, parents should expect to see changes in blood chemistry within 2 weeks, faster feeding progress within days to weeks, and reduced eye problems would be measured over the first 6 weeks of life.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If your premature baby is receiving fish oil-based nutrition, track: (1) Days until full feeding achieved, (2) Eye exam results at 4 and 6 weeks, (3) Any eye surgery needed, and (4) Liver function test results. This creates a clear record to discuss with your medical team.
  • For parents: Ask your baby’s medical team specifically about fish oil-based nutrition options and request that they monitor your baby’s eye health closely with regular eye exams. Keep detailed notes of feeding progress and any eye concerns to share with doctors.
  • Set reminders for scheduled eye exams (typically at 4 and 6 weeks for at-risk premature babies). Log feeding milestones and any changes in your baby’s condition. Share this information with your neonatology team to help them track whether the nutrition approach is working well for your baby.

This research is about specialized medical nutrition for premature babies in hospital intensive care settings. It should not be used to make decisions about nutrition for full-term babies or for any baby outside of a hospital setting. All nutrition decisions for premature infants should be made by the baby’s medical team, including neonatologists and nutrition specialists. This study shows promising results but is not definitive proof that fish oil-based nutrition prevents eye problems in all premature babies. More research is needed. Always consult with your baby’s doctors before making any changes to their medical care or nutrition plan.