Background: Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) may influence the immune system. Our objective\nwas to compare the frequency of common illnesses in infants who received formula with or without added\nLCPUFAs.\nMethods: In this observational, multi-center, prospective study, infants consumed formula with 17 mg DHA and\n34 mg ARA/100 kcal (n = 233) or with no added DHA or ARA (n = 92). Pediatricians recorded respiratory illnesses,\notitis media, eczema, and diarrhea through 1 year of age.\nResults: Infants who consumed formula with DHA/ARA had lower incidence of bronchitis/bronchiolitis (P = 0.004),\ncroup (P = 0.044), nasal congestion (P = 0.001), cough (P = 0.014), and diarrhea requiring medical attention\n(P = 0.034). The odds ratio (OR) of having at least one episode of bronchitis/bronchiolitis (0.41, 95% CI 0.24, 0.70;\nP = 0.001), croup (0.23, 95% CI 0.05, 0.97; P = 0.045), nasal congestion (0.37, 95% CI 0.20, 0.66; P = 0.001), cough\n(0.52, 95% CI 0.32, 0.86; P = 0.011), and diarrhea requiring medical attention (0.51, 95% CI 0.28, 0.92; P = 0.026) was\nlower in infants fed DHA/ARA. The OR of an increased number of episodes of bronchitis/bronchiolitis, croup, nasal\ncongestion, cough, and diarrhea, as well as the hazard ratio for shorter time to first episode of bronchitis/bronchiolitis,\nnasal congestion, cough, and diarrhea were also significantly lower in the DHA/ARA group.\nConclusions: In healthy infants, formula with DHA/ARA was associated with lower incidence of common respiratory\nsymptoms and illnesses, as well as diarrhea.
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