Table 1

Baseline (at randomisation) clinical and demographic characteristics

High-DHA diet (n=291)Standard-DHA diet (n=313)
Median (IQR) gestational age (weeks)30.0 (28.0–31.0)30.0 (28.0–31.0)
Mean (SD) birth weight (g)1307 (420)1320 (410)
Male sex152 (52.2)172 (55.0)
Singleton birth208 (71.5)195 (62.3)
Birth weight <1250 g132 (45.4)139 (44.4)
Birth weight <10th centile*54 (18.6)57 (18.2)
Mean (SD) birth length (cm) (n=222/238)†38.2 (3.9)38.2 (4.1)
Mean (SD) birth head circumference (cm) (n=248/261)†27.2 (2.8)27.4 (2.7)
Mean (SD) maternal age (years)29.9 (5.7)30.5 (5.2)
Mother smoked during pregnancy77 (26.5)76 (24.3)
Infant received breast milk at trial entry271 (93.1)291 (93.0)
Mother completed secondary education (n=280/293)†175 (62.5)172 (58.7)
Father completed secondary education (n=270/280)†146 (54.1)155 (55.4)
  • Values are numbers (percentage) of infants unless stated otherwise.

  • *The 10th centile for gestational age in a normal population as reported by Cole et al.31

  • †Numerical data available for high-DHA and standard-DHA, respectively.

  • DHA, docosahexaenoic acid.