Parent-reported health, well-being and education outcomes.
| Outcome | High-DHA diet mean (SD) N=291 | Standard-DHA diet mean (SD) N=313 | Unadjusted mean difference (95% CI) | Unadjusted p Value | Adjusted mean difference (95% CI)* | Adjusted p Value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRIEF† | ||||||
| Behavioural regulation index | 53.7 (12.4) | 51.8 (12.5) | 1.9 (−0.3 to 4.1) | 0.09 | 1.9 (−0.3 to 4.0) | 0.09 |
| Inhibit scale | 53.3 (11.4) | 51.6 (11.5) | 1.8 (−0.2 to 3.8) | 0.08 | 1.7 (−0.2 to 3.7) | 0.09 |
| Shift scale | 53.6 (13.0) | 51.7 (12.6) | 1.9 (−0.3 to 4.1) | 0.10 | 1.8 (−0.4 to 4.0) | 0.10 |
| Emotional control scale | 53.2 (12.3) | 51.8 (12.7) | 1.4 (−0.8 to 3.5) | 0.23 | 1.3 (−0.8 to 3.5) | 0.23 |
| Metacognition index | 54.9 (12.6) | 53.9 (12.8) | 0.9 (−1.3 to 3.1) | 0.43 | 0.8 (−1.4 to 3.0) | 0.48 |
| Initiate scale | 53.1 (11.6) | 52.4 (11.6) | 0.7 (−1.3 to 2.8) | 0.49 | 0.6 (−1.4 to 2.7) | 0.54 |
| Working memory scale | 55.5 (13.4) | 55.1 (13.7) | 0.4 (−1.9 to 2.7) | 0.75 | 0.3 (−2.0 to 2.5) | 0.81 |
| Plan/organise scale | 56.0 (13.4) | 55.4 (13.3) | 0.6 (−1.7 to 3.0) | 0.61 | 0.5 (−1.8 to 2.8) | 0.67 |
| Organisation of materials scale | 53.1 (10.7) | 52.1 (10.9) | 1.1 (−0.8 to 3.0) | 0.27 | 1.0 (−0.9 to 2.9) | 0.28 |
| Monitor scale | 53.0 (12.8) | 52.4 (13.1) | 0.6 (−1.6 to 2.9) | 0.58 | 0.5 (−1.7 to 2.7) | 0.64 |
| Global executive composite (total score) | 55.0 (12.5) | 53.6 (12.9) | 1.4 (−0.9 to 3.6) | 0.24 | 1.3 (−1.0 to 3.5) | 0.26 |
| ADHD (Conners 3 AI-parent)‡ | ||||||
| ADHD t score (total score) | 65.6 (18.5) | 64.4 (18.7) | 1.3 (−1.9 to 4.4) | 0.43 | 1.1 (−2.0 to 4.2) | 0.47 |
| Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire§ | ||||||
| Emotional symptoms score | 2.4 (2.2) | 2.3 (2.1) | 0.2 (−0.2 to 0.6) | 0.33 | 0.2 (−0.2 to 0.5) | 0.35 |
| Conduct problems score | 2.1 (1.9) | 1.9 (1.8) | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.20 | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.18 |
| Hyperactivity score | 4.4 (2.8) | 4.3 (2.8) | 0.1 (−0.4 to 0.6) | 0.72 | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.6) | 0.66 |
| Peer problems score | 1.8 (1.9) | 1.6 (1.7) | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.16 | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.16 |
| Prosocial Behaviour score | 8.2 (1.9) | 8.1 (2.0) | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.52 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.52 |
| Impact score | 0.9 (1.9) | 0.9 (1.7) | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.3) | 0.86 | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.3) | 0.82 |
| Total Difficulties score | 10.8 (6.7) | 10.1 (6.2) | 0.7 (−0.4 to 1.8) | 0.22 | 0.7 (−0.4 to 1.8) | 0.21 |
| Health Utilities Index Mark 3¶ | ||||||
| Vision score | 0.98 (0.06) | 0.98 (0.08) | 0.00 (−0.01 to 0.01) | 0.84 | 0.00 (−0.01 to 0.01) | 0.89 |
| Hearing score | 1.00 (0.03) | 1.00 (0.04) | −0.00 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.71 | −0.00 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.75 |
| Speech score | 0.96 (0.12) | 0.94 (0.14) | 0.02 (−0.00 to 0.04) | 0.12 | 0.02 (−0.00 to 0.04) | 0.12 |
| Ambulation score | 0.98 (0.11) | 0.99 (0.09) | −0.01 (−0.02 to 0.01) | 0.39 | −0.01 (−0.02 to 0.01) | 0.35 |
| Dexterity score | 0.99 (0.09) | 0.99 (0.09) | −0.00 (−0.02 to 0.01) | 0.79 | −0.00 (−0.02 to 0.01) | 0.76 |
| Emotion score | 0.99 (0.04) | 0.99 (0.03) | −0.01 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.10 | −0.01 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.10 |
| Cognition score | 0.93 (0.14) | 0.94 (0.13) | −0.01 (−0.03 to 0.01) | 0.51 | −0.01 (−0.03 to 0.01) | 0.47 |
| Pain score | 0.99 (0.06) | 0.99 (0.03) | −0.01 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.13 | −0.01 (−0.01 to 0.00) | 0.13 |
| Overall score | 0.89 (0.18) | 0.90 (0.17) | −0.01 (−0.04 to 0.02) | 0.46 | −0.01 (−0.04 to 0.02) | 0.43 |
| Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory** | ||||||
| Physical functioning score | 87.2 (17.6) | 87.7 (17.1) | −0.5 (−3.4 to 2.4) | 0.75 | −0.5 (−3.5 to 2.4) | 0.72 |
| Emotional functioning score | 75.1 (19.1) | 77.9 (16.4) | −2.8 (−6.0 to 0.4) | 0.09 | −2.8 (−6.0 to 0.4) | 0.09 |
| Social functioning score | 81.4 (20.2) | 83.7 (19.3) | −2.3 (−5.6 to 1.0) | 0.17 | −2.3 (−5.6 to 0.9) | 0.16 |
| School functioning score | 75.6 (19.7) | 76.4 (19.7) | −0.9 (−4.3 to 2.5) | 0.62 | −0.8 (−4.1 to 2.4) | 0.61 |
| Psychosocial health summary score | 77.4 (16.4) | 79.4 (15.5) | −2.0 (−4.8 to 0.8) | 0.17 | −2.0 (−4.7 to 0.8) | 0.16 |
| Physical health summary score | 87.2 (17.6) | 87.7 (17.1) | −0.5 (−3.4 to 2.4) | 0.75 | −0.5 (−3.5 to 2.4) | 0.72 |
| Total score | 80.8 (15.2) | 82.2 (14.4) | −1.5 (−4.1 to 1.1) | 0.27 | −1.5 (−4.0 to 1.1) | 0.26 |
| Number (%) of children who repeated a school year†† | 20 (6.7) | 12 (3.8) | 1.8 (0.8 to 4.0) | 0.17 | 1.7 (0.8 to 3.7) | 0.18 |
Values are mean (SD) and treatment effects are mean difference based on imputed data unless otherwise indicated.
*Adjusted for sex, birth weight (<1250 or ≥1250 g) and recruiting centre.
†Measures executive function; the mean (SD) score is 50 (10); a scale score or index greater than 64 is clinically indicative of dysfunction.
‡Measures Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version IV—defined symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; the mean (SD) score is 50 (10), range 40–90; a normal score is less than 60; the elevated range (indicating more concerns than typical) is 60–69; a very elevated score (indicating many more concerns than typical) is greater than or equal to 70.
§Measures Behaviour: the normal emotional symptoms score range is 0–3; a score greater than 3 is indicative of dysfunction. The normal conduct problem score range is 0–2; a score greater than 2 is indicative of dysfunction. The normal hyperactivity score range is 0–5; a score greater than 5 is indicative of dysfunction. The normal peer problem score range is 0–2; a score greater than 2 is indicative of dysfunction. The normal prosocial behaviour score range is 6–10; a score less than 6 is indicative of dysfunction. The normal total difficulties score range is 0–13; a total difficulties score greater than 13 is indicative of dysfunction.
¶Measures general health status and health-related quality of life; a score of 1 indicates perfect health.
**Measures health-related quality of life; higher scores indicate a better health-related quality of life.
††Treatment effects are relative risk based on imputed data.
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; BRIEF, Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid.