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Increased Maternal Prenatal Adiposity, Inflammation, and Lower Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels Influence Child Negative
Hanna C Gustafsson1, Kathleen F Holton2, Ashley N Anderson1
1Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States.
Insights
Maternal omega-3 fatty acids may protect infants from negative behavioral outcomes linked to higher maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). This suggests omega-3 supplementation could mitigate risks associated with maternal adiposity.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Psychiatry
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Maternal adiposity during pregnancy is linked to offspring psychiatric disorder risk, potentially via inflammation.
- Gestational factors modifying this risk, like omega-3 fatty acids, are not fully understood.
- Omega-3 fatty acids possess anti-inflammatory properties that may offer protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent and interactive effects of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and omega-3 fatty acid levels on offspring infant negative affect.
- To explore omega-3 fatty acids as a potential protective factor against risks associated with maternal adiposity.
- To examine the role of maternal inflammation in mediating the relationship between maternal BMI, omega-3s, and infant outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 62 pregnant women and their 6-month-old infants.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and third-trimester plasma omega-3 fatty acid concentrations were measured.
- Infant negative affect assessed via observer and maternal ratings; maternal inflammation indexed by plasma cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1).
Main Results:
- Higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with increased infant negative affect.
- Higher maternal omega-3 fatty acid levels were associated with decreased infant negative affect.
- Maternal omega-3 levels moderated the BMI-infant affect association, showing a protective effect; maternal BMI and omega-3s interacted to predict inflammation, which in turn predicted infant negative affect.
Conclusions:
- Maternal omega-3 fatty acid levels significantly buffered offspring against the negative behavioral consequences of increased maternal adiposity.
- Findings support the hypothesis that inflammation mediates the link between maternal adiposity and offspring behavioral risk.
- Omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy may be a viable strategy to reduce offspring behavioral risks linked to maternal adiposity.
Objective:
Increased maternal adiposity during pregnancy is associated with offspring risk for psychiatric disorders. Inflammation secondary to adiposity is believed to be an important mechanism through which this effect occurs. Although increased adiposity introduces risk, not all children of overweight mothers develop these problems. Gestational factors that modify this risk are not well-understood. If maternal increased adiposity exerts its effects on offspring outcomes by increasing inflammation in the gestational environment, then anti-inflammatory inputs such as omega-3 fatty acids may be one protective factor. The goal of this study was to investigate whether maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and omega-3 fatty acid levels independently and/or interactively predicted offspring infant negative affect, an early life marker of risk for psychopathology.
Methods:
Data came from a prospective study of women recruited during pregnancy and their 6 month old infants (N = 62; 40% female). Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was pulled from medical charts and third trimester omega-3 fatty acid concentrations were assessed in plasma. Child negative affect was assessed using observer- and maternal-ratings at 6 months of age. Maternal inflammation was indexed by third trimester plasma levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.
Results:
Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with increased infant negative affect whereas eicosapentaenoic acid was associated with less infant negative affect. Maternal omega-3 fatty acid levels moderated the effect of BMI on infant negative affect, such that omega-3 fatty acids buffered children against the negative consequences of increased adiposity. Supporting the role of maternal inflammation in these associations, maternal BMI and omega-3 fatty acid levels interacted to predict maternal third trimester inflammation. Further, maternal inflammation was associated with increased infant negative affect.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy may protect against offspring behavioral risk associated with increased maternal adiposity.
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