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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy improves infant health

DHA during pregnancy improves infant health

DHA during pregnancy improves infant health

A recent study completed at Emory University and funded by the National Institute of Health, USA, and the March of Dimes Foundation charity, has confirmed a preliminary finding that DHA during pregnancy improves infant health. DHA supplementation during pregnancy improves the infant’s immune function as measured by the frequency and intensity of illness symptoms.

Study Overview and Results

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 1094 pregnant women who took either 400 mg of algal-sourced DHA or a placebo daily from 18-22 weeks’ gestation through parturition. Their infants were assessed at ages 1 (n=849), 3 (n=834), and 6 (n=834) months for various illness symptoms. The study found that DHA during pregnancy improves infant health by reducing the duration of illness symptoms, with infants of DHA-supplemented mothers experiencing fewer and shorter illness episodes.

DHA during pregnancy improves infant health Key Findings

While both groups had similar numbers of illnesses, infants whose mothers took DHA had reduced symptom duration at 1 month compared to the placebo group. Specifically, the DHA group experienced significantly shorter durations of cough, phlegm, and wheezing. At 3 months, infants in the DHA group were ill 14% less often than those in the placebo group. At 6 months, the DHA group showed reduced durations of several illness symptoms but a longer duration of vomiting.

Previous studies have reported other benefits of omega-3 LC-PUFAs during pregnancy, such as improved memory in older children and enhanced brain function. Infants with higher DHA levels at birth show better cognitive and visual development. Furthermore, maternal DHA supplementation is associated with reduced risks of allergies, eczema, and obesity in children. This study by Emory University adds to the growing body of evidence that reinforcing the importance of DHA for future generations.

Additional Benefits of DHA Supplementation

Previous studies have reported other benefits of omega-3 LC-PUFAs during pregnancy and/or while breast feeding on the infant and toddler.  Two studies published earlier this year showed that higher dietary intake of DHA during pregnancy improved memory in 11 year old children,5 while DHA supplementation during pregnancy enhanced brain function in children just entering school (approximately age 5 years).6 Others have reported higher maternal DHA status at birth is associated with enhanced attentional functioning in toddlers during their first and second years of life9,10 while higher DHA concentration in umbilical cord blood (a good indicator of foetal exposure to that nutrient during the last trimester of pregnancy) and higher DHA concentration in infant cord blood increases gestation, improves visual acuity and intelligence at 6 months of age, and also increases mental and psychomotor development at 11 months of age11.  A trial including term infants showed the quality of movement was dependent on how high the infants DHA was at the time of birth and was independent of gender, cognitive performance, gestational age and age at measurement12.  Earlier in 2007, a similarly designed study showed that low infant blood levels of DHA predict the development of internalizing problem behaviour later in life13.  A 2009 study reported that babies born to mothers who took DHA during pregnancy and while breast feeding are 7.5 times less likely to develop food allergies and 3 times less likely to develop eczema.8  A study published in early 2011 reported that babies born to mothers who eat the recommended quantity of  DHA during pregnancy are 32 percent less likely to have excessive body fat indicative of potential obesity7. The largest clinical study ever providing DHA to 2,399 pregnant women, reported a 60% reduction in slow developing cognitive and language skills in infants, a 35% reduction in the incidence of low birth weight babies and 50% reduction in the number of very early pre-term deliveries with no serious adverse effects for either the mother or infant15.

Long-Term Impact of DHA During Pregnancy

Other clinical studies have shown that maternal fish intake during pregnancy is associated with higher IQ in offspring14, and that pregnant mothers taking DHA rich fish oil supplements during the last trimester can maintain their DHA status.16 In addition, infants born to these mothers have also been shown to start life with higher DHA levels than those of mothers who were not supplemented.16 Infants with higher DHA status have enhanced sleep patterns suggesting greater central nervous system maturity17, enhanced attention and mental processing10, score better in mental processing tests18,  have higher IQs at four years of age19 and higher scores for language comprehension, average phrase length and vocabulary20.

The Emory University study adds to the massive body of information supporting the need for and importance of DHA supplementation for the health of future generations. This study group is now turning age 4, and at age 5 the researchers plan to study their school performance and other long-term effects aimed at confirming if children grow better and are smarter following maternal supplementation during pregnancy.

References:

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      1. Dunstan JA, Mori TA, Barden A et al. Maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy reduces interleukin-13 levels in cord blood of infants at high risk of atopy Clin Exp Allergy 2003;33(4):442-448.

      1. Dunstan J, Mori TA, Barden A et al. Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy modifies neonatal allergen-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes in infants at high risk of atopy: a randomized, controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;112(6):1178-1184.

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      1. Boucher O, Burden MJ, Muckle G, Saint-Amour D, Ayotte P et al. Neurophysiologic and neurobehavioral evidence of beneficial effects of prenatal omega-3 fatty acid intake on memory function at school age. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1025-37.

      1. Escolano-Margarit MV, Ramos R, Beyer J, Csábi G, Parrilla-Roure M et al. Prenatal DHA Status and Neurological Outcome in Children at Age 5.5  Years Are Positively Associated. J Nutr. 2011 Jun;141(6):1216-23.

      1. Donahue SM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Gold DR, Jouni ZE, Gillman MW, Oken E. Prenatal fatty acid status and child adiposity at age 3 y: results from a US pregnancy cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Apr;93(4):780-8. Epub 2011 Feb 10.

      1. Furuhjelm C, Warstedt K, Larsson J et al. Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy. Acta Paediatr 2009 Jun 1 [Epub ahead of print]

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      1. Colombo J, Kannass KN, Shaddy DJ, et al. Maternal DHA and the development of attention in infancy and toddlerhood. Child Dev.2004;75(4):1254-67.

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      1. Bakker EC, Hornstra G, Blanco CE, Vles JS. Relationship between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and motor function at 7 years  of age. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec 19; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602971.

      1. Krabbendam L, Bakker E, Hornstra G, vanOs J. Relationship between DHA status at birth and child problem behavior at 7 years of age.    Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2007;76:29-34.

      1. Hibbeln JR, Davis JM, Steer C, Emmett P, Rogers I, Williams C, Golding J. Maternal seafood consumption in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood (ALSPAC study): an observational cohort study. Lancet 2007;369:578-585.

      1. Makrides M, Gibson R, McPhee A, Yelland L, Quinlivan J et al. Effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal depression and   neurodevelopment of young children. JAMA  2010;304(15):1675-1683.

      1. Van Houwelingen AC et al. EFA status in neonates after fish oil supplementation during late pregnancy. Br J Nutr 1995: 74(5):723- 31.

      1. Cheruku et al. Higher maternal plasma DHA during pregnancy is associated with more mature neonatal sleep-state patterning. Amer J Clin Nutr  2002;76:608-13.

      1. Decsi T and Koletzko B.  N-3 fatty acids and pregnancy outcomes. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2005:8(2)161-6.

      1. Helland et al. Maternal supplementation with very long chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children’s IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics 2003 Jan;111(1):e39-44.

      1. Dunstan J, Simmer K, Dixon G, Prescott S. Cognitive assessment of children at age 2.5 years after maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy: a  randomized controlled trial. Archives of Disease in Childhood: published online ahead of print: 10.1136/adc.2006.099085.

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