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Effects of prenatal nutrient supplementation and early life exposures on neurodevelopment at age 10: a randomised
Parisa Mohammadzadeh1,2, Julie Bøjstrup Rosenberg1,2, Rebecca Vinding2
1Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CNSR) & Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research (CINS), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
Insights
Prenatal nutrition, including omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, may influence child neurodevelopment. This study examines these factors
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Early life nutrient deficiencies and immune disturbances can negatively impact neurodevelopment and psychiatric health.
- Observational studies suggest links, but robust evidence from intervention trials is needed.
- The Copenhagen Prospective Study on Neuro-PSYCHiatric Development (COPSYCH) aims to address this gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prenatal n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) and high-dose vitamin D supplementation on neurodevelopment at 10 years.
- To assess effects on brain development, neurocognition, and psychopathology.
- To explore the influence of early life exposures like infections, inflammation, and the gut microbiome.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes the prospective COPSAC 2010 birth cohort (700 mother-child pairs).
- Employs a 2x2 factorial randomized controlled trial design for n-3 LCPUFA and vitamin D supplementation during the third trimester.
- Includes comprehensive neurocognitive, psychopathological, and 3 Tesla MRI assessments at the 10-year follow-up.
Main Results:
- Data collection and analysis are ongoing.
- Results will elucidate the causal effects of specific prenatal interventions on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Findings will contribute to understanding the etiology of psychiatric disorders.
Conclusions:
- This study will provide crucial evidence on the role of prenatal nutrition in shaping neurodevelopment.
- The findings have implications for public health strategies and the prevention of psychiatric disorders.
- The unique, deeply phenotyped cohort allows for comprehensive investigation of early life influences.
Introduction:
Nutrient deficiency and immune and inflammatory disturbances in early life may compromise neurodevelopment and be implicated in the aetiology of psychiatric disorders. However, current evidence is limited by its predominantly observational nature. COpenhagen Prospective Study on Neuro-PSYCHiatric Development (COPSYCH) is a research alliance between Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research with the overall aim to investigate effects of prenatal and early life exposures on neurodevelopment at 10 years. COPSYCH will investigate the impact of prenatal n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) and high-dose vitamin D supplementation on neurodevelopment reflected by brain development, neurocognition and psychopathology. Moreover, the neurodevelopmental impact of early life exposures such as infections, low grade inflammation and the gut microbiome will be scrutinised.
Methods And Analysis:
COPSYCH is based on the prospective and ongoing COPSAC2010 birth cohort of 700 mother-child pairs. Randomised controlled trials of supplementation with n-3 LCPUFA and/or high-dose vitamin D or placebo in the third trimester were embedded in a factorial 2×2 design (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01233297 and NCT00856947). This unique cohort provides deep phenotyping data from 14 previous clinical follow-up visits and exposure assessments since birth. The ongoing 10-year visit is a 2-day visit. Day 1 includes a comprehensive neurocognitive examination, and assessment of psychopathological dimensions, and assessment of categorical psychopathology. Day 2 includes acquisition of brain structural, diffusion and functional sequences using 3 Tesla MRI. Study outcomes are neurocognitive, psychopathological and MRI measures.
Ethics And Dissemination:
This study has been approved by the Danish National Committee on Health Research Ethics and The Danish Data Protection Agency. The study is conducted in accordance with the guiding principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Parents gave written informed consent before enrolment.
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