Impaired fetal growth and arterial wall thickening: a randomized trial of ω-3 supplementation

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

Background:

• Impaired fetal growth is a known cardiovascular risk factor in children, associated with arterial wall thickening.
• Current preventive strategies for this association are lacking.
• Early life nutrition may play a critical role in mitigating long-term cardiovascular health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in early childhood can prevent the association between impaired fetal growth and carotid arterial wall thickening.
• To assess the long-term impact of early childhood nutrition on subclinical atherosclerosis markers.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled trial (Childhood Asthma Prevention Study) involving 616 children born at term.
• Participants received either omega-3 (fish oil) or omega-6 (sunflower oil) supplements from bottle-feeding/6 months to 5 years of age.
• Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured at age 8 years as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Main Results:

• In the control group, impaired fetal growth was inversely associated with carotid IMT.
• This inverse association was prevented in the omega-3 supplemented group.
• A significant difference in the association between groups was observed (0.041 mm per kg birth weight, P(heterogeneity) = .02).

Conclusions:

• Dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during the first five years of life can prevent the association between impaired fetal growth and increased arterial wall thickness in childhood.
• Early nutritional interventions may be a viable strategy to address cardiovascular risks originating in fetal development.