Developing brain and behavior

Certain long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are thought to be essential components of the nutrition of infants, including those prematurely born, in the sense that they cannot be synthesises by the immature organism and must therefore be supplied in the diet. Breast milk contains these substances, but many manufactured infant formulae do not. An absence of dietary LCPUFAs has been thought to affect the development of the brain and retina, possibly leading to abnormalities in cognitive and visual function.