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Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and cognitive function at 7 y of age
E C Bakker1, A J A Ghys, A D M Kester
1Department of Human Biology, Universiteit Maastricht, The Netherlands. e.bakker@hb.unimaas.nl
Insights
This study found no link between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) levels in infants and children and their cognitive performance at age seven. Cognitive outcomes were associated with maternal education and birthweight, not LCPUFA status.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), are crucial for central nervous system (CNS) development.
- Prenatal and early childhood LCPUFA availability is hypothesized to influence cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between LCPUFA levels in umbilical cord plasma (prenatal) and plasma at 7 years of age with cognitive performance at 7 years.
- To determine if LCPUFA status at different life stages relates to cognitive development.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive performance of 306 children was assessed at age 7 using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.
- Backward stepwise regression analysis was employed to analyze the relationship between LCPUFA levels and cognitive outcomes.
- Covariables included social class, maternal intelligence, and parenting skills.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between DHA or AA levels at birth and cognitive performance at age 7.
- LCPUFA levels measured at age 7 also showed no association with cognitive performance.
- Cognitive outcomes were significantly associated with maternal education, maternal intelligence, and child's birthweight.
Conclusions:
- The study provides no evidence supporting a positive association between LCPUFA status (at birth or age 7) and cognitive performance at age 7.
- Factors such as maternal education and birthweight appear more strongly related to cognitive outcomes in this cohort.
Objective:
During the central nervous system (CNS) growth spurt, rapid accretion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) takes place. This particularly concerns docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6), which are thought to play important roles in CNS development and function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive performance at 7 y of age and LCPUFA levels in umbilical venous plasma phospholipids, representing the prenatal fatty acid availability, and in plasma phospholipids sampled at 7 y.
Design:
As part of a follow-up study, the cognitive performance of 306 children, born at term, was assessed at 7 y of age with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children. Backward stepwise regression analysis was used to study the relationship between the outcomes and LCPUFA status. Social class, maternal intelligence and parenting skills were included as covariables, among others.
Results:
Results show no significant association with either DHA or AA at birth and the cognitive performance at 7 y of age. The LCPUFA levels at 7 y were not associated with these outcomes either. Consistent with the literature, significant relationships were found between cognitive outcome measures and maternal education, maternal intelligence and the child's birthweight.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, our results do not provide evidence for a positive association between cognitive performance at 7 y and LCPUFA status at birth or at 7 y of age.