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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: November 29, 2013

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Impact of prenatal omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on cognitive outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Chiara Musillo1, Marianna Samà1, Marta Borgi1

  • 1Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy.

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|February 8, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy enhances offspring memory and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. These benefits are more significant in offspring facing prenatal adversities, suggesting a protective role for omega-3 fatty acids.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) supplementation in pregnancy shows potential benefits like reduced preterm birth.
  • However, effects on children's neurodevelopmental trajectories remain inconsistently reported.
  • Preclinical studies are crucial for understanding long-term offspring outcomes and guiding clinical research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze preclinical studies on prenatal omega-3 supplementation.
  • To assess the impact on long-term offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • To identify key neurodevelopmental domains for future clinical study designs.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of preclinical studies.
  • Databases searched: PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science.
  • Extracted data: nutritional intervention characteristics, maternal/offspring factors, memory retention, and BDNF levels.

Main Results:

  • Maternal omega-3 PUFA supplementation significantly improved offspring memory retention (SMD=0.671; p=0.010).
  • Supplementation also increased offspring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels (SMD=0.838; p=0.000).
  • Effects were more pronounced in offspring exposed to prenatal adversities; potential mitigation of oxidative stress and inflammation noted.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy is a safe and effective strategy for enhancing offspring neurodevelopment.
  • Stronger effects observed under adverse gestational conditions highlight potential for at-risk populations.
  • Further research can prioritize specific neurodevelopmental domains based on these findings.

Keywords:
InflammationNeurotrophic factorsPUFAPregnancyRedox

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