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Relationship between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and motor function at 7 years of age

E C Bakker1, G Hornstra, C E Blanco

  • 1Department of Psychology, Netherlands Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands. esther.bakker@ou.nl

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|December 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels, but not later levels, are linked to better motor skills in children. Maternal diet during pregnancy influences this crucial fatty acid for infant development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Nutritional Science
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), specifically arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are vital for central nervous system (CNS) development.
  • These fatty acids rapidly accumulate in the CNS during the perinatal period, suggesting critical roles in development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between prenatal and early childhood levels of AA and DHA and motor function at age 7.
  • To determine if fatty acid availability in umbilical cord plasma and plasma at age 7 correlates with motor skill quality and quantity.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 306 children born at term was assessed at age 7 using the Maastricht Motor Test (MMT) for quantitative and qualitative motor function.
  • Blood samples were analyzed for phospholipid fatty acid concentrations at birth (umbilical plasma) and at age 7.

Main Results:

  • Higher concentrations of DHA in umbilical plasma phospholipids were significantly associated with better overall and quality-based motor scores at age 7.
  • DHA levels at age 7 and AA levels (at birth or age 7) did not show a significant association with quantitative motor function scores.
  • The positive association between prenatal DHA and motor quality remained significant after adjusting for covariates like gender and cognitive performance.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal availability of DHA, influenced by maternal diet, appears to positively impact the quality of motor function in children later in life.
  • This highlights the importance of maternal DHA intake during pregnancy for optimal neurodevelopment and motor skill acquisition.
Abstract

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