Maternal Omega-6/Omega-3 Concentration Ratio During Pregnancy and Infant Neurodevelopment: The ECLIPSES Study

The balance of omega-6/omega-3 (n-6/n-3) is crucial for proper brain function as they have opposite physiological roles.

To analyze the association between maternal serum ratios of n-6/n-3 in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and the neurodevelopment of their children in the early days after birth in the population of Northern Spain's Mediterranean region.

Longitudinal study in which 336 mother-child pairs participated. Mother serum concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) were determined. Sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle habits, and obstetrical variables were collected. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) was used to assess infant neurodevelopment. Multiple linear regression models adjusting for confounding factors were performed.

In the third trimester, a higher maternal n-6/n-3 ratio was negatively associated with infant motor development (β = -0.124, p = 0.023). Similarly, higher ARA/DHA ratios were negatively associated with total motor (β = -2.005, p = 0.002) and fine motor development (β = -0.389, p = 0.001). No significant associations were observed in the first trimester nor for the ARA/EPA ratio in the third trimester.

Our findings indicate that an elevated n-6/n-3 ratio and ARA/DHA ratio in the third trimester of pregnancy are associated with poorer motor development outcomes in infants. These results highlight the importance of optimizing maternal fatty acid balance during pregnancy to support fetal neurodevelopment, suggesting a need for further research to verify these associations and elucidate underlying mechanisms.