Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake during Pregnancy and Child Neuropsychological Development: A Multi-Centre Population-Based Birth Cohort Study in Spain

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 in...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Tahaei, Hana, Gignac, Florence, Pinar, Ariadna, Fernandez-Barres, Silvia, Romaguera, Dora, Vioque, Jesus, Santa-Marina, Loreto, Subiza-Perez, Mikel, Llop, Sabrina, Soler-Blasco, Raquel, Arija, Victoria, Salas-Salvado, Jordi, Tardon, Adonina, Riaño Galán, Isolina, Sunyer, Jordi, Guxens, Monica, Julvez, Jordi
Format: article
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Conselleria de Salut i Consum del Govern de les Illes Balears
Repository:Docusalut
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:docusalut.com:20.500.13003/19725
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/19725
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Child
Pregnancy
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Prospective Studies
Spain
Child Development
Female
Humans
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Infant
Estudios de Cohortes
Preescolar
Humanos
Ácidos Grasos Omega-3
Estudios Prospectivos
Embarazo
Desarrollo Infantil
Femenino
Niño
Lactante
Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal
España
maternal diet
children
neurodevelopment
omega-3 fatty acids
population-based cohort
Description
Summary: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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