The effect of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in preterm infants on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and its correlation with the level of platelet activating factor.

Background: Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal infection that primarily affects premature and low birth weight babies. Both prematurity and enteral feeding are major risk factors for NEC. This interventional two armed, double blinded randomized controlled clinical trial (IIb) study was to determine the role of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in preventing or lessening the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm/low birth weight neonates. Methods: One group (n=20) was assigned to receive DHA and the other received the placebo. Results: Platelets activating factor was significantly higher in neonates who received DHA supplements (p<0.001). As regards the incidence of feeding intolerance, our results demonstrated a significant statistical improvement among neonates of DHA group; regarding abdominal girth, intestinal sound, gastric residual, passage of stool and modified NEC BELL’S criteria (P<0.05). SNAP score for evaluation of sepsis was evaluated initially and 10 days later for both groups where, it increased from 9.6 to 19.2 among patients of group B and decreased from 14.4 to 8.3 among neonates of group A (P<0.001 and 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: DHA has an apparent role in improving growth of preterm neonates, decrease severity and progression of NEC.