The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) posted the draft report of "Dietary Total Fat Intake and Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake and Child Growth and Development Outcomes: A Systematic Review," for which GOED submitted comments late last year. Comments for the draft report are being accepted until 29 September 2025 and GOED is planning to submit comments. This is the first of three draft reports on fat that, once finalized, will be used during the upcoming macronutrient dietary reference intake (DRI) review in Canada and the United States.
The conclusions from the report’s abstract were: “There were few findings of differences across polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation or dietary intake of fatty acids and growth and developmental outcomes in a healthy population during pregnancy and childhood. The largest body of evidence consisted of RCTs with moderate or high risk of bias evaluating polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy or infancy and growth outcomes in the first year of life. Of outcomes with sufficient evidence, heterogeneity in study design, exposures and comparators, and outcomes resulted in the strength of evidence being rated mostly as low. Additional PUFA and total fat intake in healthy populations, at the amounts that have been studied, may not confer demonstrable advantages, but the consistent finding of no difference suggests no harm. Additional research in older children and adolescents, studies with longer exposure durations, and populations who have diet- or nutrition-related conditions that may benefit from PUFA or total fat supplementation is needed to inform future DRIs.”
At first glance, the conclusions are disappointing and definitely not in line with the body of evidence supporting the association between omega-3s and reducing the risk of preterm birth.
GOED last reported on DRIs in the 5 May 2025 GOED Current.
