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Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake during Pregnancy and Child Neuropsychological Development: A Multi-Centre Population-Based
Hana Tahaei1, Florence Gignac1,2, Ariadna Pinar1,2,3
1ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Maternal intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in early pregnancy is linked to better child cognitive and executive functions. Higher n-3 PUFA consumption during the first trimester correlated with improved neuropsychological outcomes at ages 4 and 7.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Maternal and Child Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on the comprehensive intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) across all pregnancy stages.
- Long-term neuropsychological follow-up of children in relation to maternal n-3 PUFA intake is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal n-3 PUFA consumption during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and the child's neuropsychological development.
- To assess cognitive and executive functions in children at multiple developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 2644 pregnant women in Spain.
- Maternal n-3 PUFA intake assessed via validated food frequency questionnaires during the first and third trimesters.
- Child neuropsychological assessments included Bayley Scales (1 year), McCarthy Scales (4 years), and Attention Network Test (7 years).
- Multivariate linear regression models adjusted for covariates like maternal education, social class, and lifestyle factors.
Main Results:
- Higher n-3 PUFA intake in the first trimester was associated with significantly higher McCarthy Scale scores for general cognition, verbal ability, and executive function at age 4.
- Increased n-3 PUFA consumption in early pregnancy also correlated with faster reaction times on the Attention Network Test at age 7.
- Associations were less pronounced when n-3 PUFA intake was considered during the third trimester.
Conclusions:
- Maternal n-3 PUFA intake during early pregnancy shows a positive association with enhanced neuropsychological functions in children.
- These findings suggest a critical role for omega-3 fatty acids in fetal neurodevelopment.
- Further clinical research is warranted to confirm these associations and explore potential interventions.
Abstract:
Background: There are few studies that look at the intake of all types of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) during the different stages of pregnancy along with a long-term neuropsychological follow-up of the child. This study aims to explore the association between maternal n-3 PUFA intake during two periods of pregnancy and the child’s neuropsychological scores at different ages. Methods: Prospective data were obtained for 2644 pregnant women recruited between 2004 and 2008 in population-based birth cohorts in Spain. Maternal n-3 PUFA intake during the first and third trimester of pregnancy was estimated using validated food frequency questionnaires. Child neuropsychological functions were assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development version one (BSID) at 1 year old, the McCarthy Scale of Children’s Abilities (MSCA) at 4 years old, and the Attention Network Test (ANT) at 7 years old. Data were analysed using multivariate linear regression models and adjusted for potential covariates, such as maternal social class, education, cohort location, alcohol consumption, smoking, breastfeeding duration, and energy intake. Results: Compared to participants in the lowest quartile (<1.262 g/day) of n-3 PUFA consumption during the first trimester, those in the highest quartile (>1.657 g/day) had a 2.26 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41, 4.11) higher MSCA general cognitive score, a 2.48 points (95% CI: 0.53, 4.43) higher MSCA verbal score, and a 2.06 points (95% CI: 0.166, 3.95) higher MSCA executive function score, and a 11.52 milliseconds (95% CI: −22.95, −0.09) lower ANT hit reaction time standard error. In the third pregnancy trimester, the associations were weaker. Conclusions: Positive associations between n-3 PUFA intake during early pregnancy and child neuropsychological functions at 4 and 7 years of age were found, and further clinical research is needed to confirm these findings.
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