Use of Formula Fortified With DHA in Infants With Cystic Fibrosis

The hypothesis of this study is that feeding infants diagnosed with CF via newborn screening a formula enhanced with a specific fish-oil fatty acid known as DHA will improve growth and decrease pancreatic dysfunction (as measured by human fecal elastase-1 in stool) over the first year of life. Briefly, infants diagnosed with CF in the first month of life whose parents chose not to breast feed their babies will be invited to enroll in a study comparing a standard commercial infant formula (Enfamil) with a formula enriched with arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The study formula has 3 times the amount of DHA available in commercially available formulas. Infants will have monthly tests of stool elastase and blood work at entry, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age.