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Does antenatal supplementation with omega-3 affect child development and behavior during the first six months of
Taciana Maia de Sousa1, Leydiane Andrade Ferreira2, Gabriel Costa Osanan3
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Nutrition Department, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Insights
Antenatal omega-3 supplementation did not alter child development scores but improved behavior over time. Pregnant women taking omega-3 supplements experienced fewer difficulties with routine compared to placebo.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are crucial for brain development and function.
- Concentrations of DHA are highest in the brain, influencing cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of antenatal omega-3 (DHA) supplementation on infant development and behavior.
- To assess developmental milestones, irritability, inflexibility, and difficulty with routine in the first six months of life.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- Low-risk pregnant women received either omega-3 (1440 mg/day DHA) or placebo (olive oil) from 22-24 weeks gestation until delivery.
- Child development was assessed using the Survey of Well-being of Young Children at 1, 4, and 6 months postpartum.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in developmental milestone scores were observed between groups at any time point.
- The omega-3 group showed a significant increase in developmental scores from 1 to 4 and 6 months, unlike the placebo group.
- Infants in the placebo group exhibited significantly higher scores for difficulty with routine compared to the omega-3 group.
Conclusions:
- Antenatal omega-3 supplementation did not affect overall child development scores in the first six months.
- Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy may positively influence infant behavior, specifically reducing difficulties with routine.
- The findings suggest a potential benefit of maternal DHA intake for behavioral regulation in early infancy.
Background:
Omega-3 fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are found in different cell membranes, but more concentrated in the brain, playing an important role in child's behavior and development.
Aims:
To evaluate the effect of antenatal omega-3 supplementation on child development and behavior during the first six months of life.
Study Design:
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Subjects:
Low-risk pregnant women with gestational age between 22 and 24 weeks were randomized in placebo (olive oil; n = 30) or omega-3 (fish oil; 1440 mg/day of DHA; n = 30) groups and supplemented until childbirth.
Outcome Measures:
Child development was assessed using the Survey of Well-being of Young Children in the first, fourth and sixth month of life.
Results:
The comparison between groups showed no differences in the Developmental Milestones score at any time, but when compared to the first month, the omega-3 group showed an increase at the fourth and sixth month. Such increase was not observed in the placebo group. No differences were found between groups for Irritability and Inflexibility scores, however, higher scores for Difficulty with Routine were observed in the placebo group when compared to omega-3 at first, fourth and sixth month.
Conclusion:
There were no differences between groups for child development, but the omega-3 group showed an increase in this score over time. The placebo group had greater difficulty with routine than the omega-3 group, indicating a beneficial effect of antenatal supplementation on child behavior.
Trial Registration:
ReBec U1111-1215-7952 (June 16th 2018).
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