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Maternal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status during early pregnancy and children's risk of problem behavior

Eva M Loomans1, Bea R H Van den Bergh2, Maaike Schelling3

  • 1Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, and Health Promotion, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 21, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal omega-3 fatty acid status during pregnancy, particularly docosahexaenoic acid, is linked to reduced emotional symptoms in children. Adequate fatty acid balance is crucial for fetal brain development and long-term behavioral outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Maternal Health

Background:

  • Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are vital for fetal brain development.
  • Maternal LCPUFA status during pregnancy may influence offspring neurodevelopment and behavior.
  • Problem behaviors in children can have long-term consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between maternal LCPUFA status and ratio during pregnancy and children's risk of problem behavior at age 5.
  • To investigate the role of specific LCPUFAs, like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in behavioral outcomes.
  • To explore potential mediating factors such as preterm birth and gestational age.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 4336 pregnant women.
  • Maternal plasma phospholipid LCPUFA status assessed during pregnancy.
  • Children's behavior rated by mothers (n=2502) and teachers (n=2061) at 5 years of age.
  • Multivariate logistic regression analyses used to determine associations.

Main Results:

  • Higher maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations were associated with a reduced risk of emotional symptoms in children (OR 0.75, P=0.05).
  • Lower eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and higher omega-6:omega-3 LCPUFA ratios showed a non-significant trend towards increased risk for emotional symptoms and hyperactivity/inattention.
  • No evidence of mediation by preterm birth or being small for gestational age; child's sex and infant feeding did not modify associations.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal LCPUFA status during pregnancy influences long-term developmental programming of behavior.
  • Adequate and balanced intake of fatty acids during pregnancy is important for optimal fetal brain development.
  • These findings highlight the significance of maternal nutrition for children's behavioral outcomes.
Abstract

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