Arachidonic acid and DHA status in pregnant women is not associated with cognitive performance of their children at 4 or 6–7 years
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Arachidonic acid (ARA) and DHA, supplied primarily from the mother, are required for early development of the central nervous system. Thus, variations in maternal ARA or DHA status may modify neurocognitive development. We investigated the relationship between maternal ARA and DHA status in early (11·7 weeks) or late (34·5 weeks) pregnancy on neurocognitive function at the age of 4 years or 6-7 years in 724 mother-child pairs from the Southampton Women's Survey cohort. Plasma phosphatidylcholine fatty acid composition was measured in early and late pregnancy. ARA concentration in early pregnancy predicted 13 % of the variation in ARA concentration in late pregnancy (β=0·36, P<0·001). DHA concentration in early pregnancy predicted 21 % of the variation in DHA concentration in late pregnancy (β=0·46, P<0·001). Children's cognitive function at the age of 4 years was assessed by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and at the age of 6-7 years by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. Executive function at the age of 6-7 years was assessed using elements of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Neither DHA nor ARA concentrations in early or late pregnancy were associated significantly with neurocognitive function in children at the age of 4 years or the age of 6-7 years. These findings suggest that ARA and DHA status during pregnancy in the range found in this cohort are unlikely to have major influences on neurocognitive function in healthy children.
Source: British Journal Of Nutrition
Authors: Sarah R. Crozier, Charlene M. Sibbons, Helena L. Fisk, Keith M. Godfrey, Philip C. Calder, Catharine R. Gale, Sian M. Robinson, Hazel M. Inskip, Janis Baird, Nicholas C. Harvey, Cyrus Cooper, Graham C. Burdge, Southampton Women’s Survey (SWS) Study Group
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: Danone, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, National Institute for Health and Care Research, British Heart Foundation, University of Southampton, University of Oxford, European Commission, Versus Arthritis, Nestec, National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, Medical Research Council
Awards: G1093531541, G1277089031, G1374236693, Centre for Cognitive Ageing & Cognitive Epidemiology, G183778332, Food-based solutions for Optimal vitamin D Nutrition and health through the life cycle, G2473961061, G2890658772, G3207356259, G3381566145, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G3720057038, G393177772, G462585257, G4964355645, G5090859494, Sarcopenia, Frailty and Clinical Practice in Older People, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G5605571342, G5702163051, Epigenetic biomarkers and determinants of cardiovascular risk in children, G6219046052, G6452750152, Lifecourse Determinants of Bone and Joint Disease, G6719865625, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, Assessment of LifeLab Southampton: engaging teenagers in increasing their interest in science to improve their health behaviours, Nutrition, Development and Lifelong Health: Studies in European Populations, Long-term effects of early nutrition on later health, G895867133
OpenAlex ID: W2800839860