5. Conclusions
The findings of this study demonstrate that higher dietary intakes of total PUFAs, DHA and AA during the first year of life are associated with better neurodevelopmental outcome in terms of motor and cognitive function at 12 months CA. Additionally, the study highlights the need for improvement in dietary DHA and AA intakes during the CF period, as intakes were generally low and did not meet the recommended dietary intake levels. These results emphasize the importance of enhancing total PUFA, DHA and AA intake during CF as valuable goals, not only to comply with dietary guidelines but also to enhance neurological outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. By providing evidence on the association between dietary PUFA intake and neurodevelopmental outcomes, this study contributes to our understanding of optimizing post-discharge nutritional management in this vulnerable population.