Intake of Total Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid Associated with Increased Gestational Length and Improved Cognitive Performance at 1 Year of Age

Background: Maternal omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (n-3 DHA) intake during pregnancy and/or lactation has been positively associated with infant growth and cognitive development. However, the majority of studies have not examined the effect of supplementing mothers with n-3 DHA during both pregnancy and lactation and fail to account for total maternal n-3 DHA intake. Aims: To determine the effect of increasing n-3 DHA intake during pregnancy and lactation on infant neurocognitive development in the first year of life. Study Design: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design was used. Subjects: 115 pregnant women were randomized to receive purified tuna oil supplement containing 300 mg of n-3 DHA and 67 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day or an identical placebo (Sunola Oil) for the last trimester of pregnancy through the first 3 months of lactation. Outcome Measures: Neurocognitive development was measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III at 4 and 12 months of age. Gestational length was determined sing the LMP method. Results: Infants born to mothers with >600 mg n-3 DHA/day showed significantly higher scores on the 12 month cognitive scale of the BSID-III (p=0.018) compared to infants born to mothers with <300 mg n-3 DHA/day. Infants born to mothers in the n-3 DHA supplement group had an increase of 4.5 days in gestational age (p=0.048) and significantly lower incidence of preterm birth (5%; n=3) compared to infants born to mothers in the control group (18%; n=10; X2=4.97, p=0.026). Conclusions: Maternal intake of ≥600 mg n-3 DHA/day during the third trimester of gestation throughout the first three months of breastfeeding was associated with small but significant increases in gestational length and enhanced neurocognitive performance in infants at 1 year of age. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT02219399 ClinicalTrials.govBackground: Maternal omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (n-3 DHA) intake during pregnancy and/or lactation has been positively associated with infant growth and cognitive development. However, the majority of studies have not examined the effect of supplementing mothers with n-3 DHA during both pregnancy and lactation and fail to account for total maternal n-3 DHA intake. Aims: To determine the effect of increasing n-3 DHA intake during pregnancy and lactation on infant neurocognitive development in the first year of life. Study Design: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design was used. Subjects: 115 pregnant women were randomized to receive purified tuna oil supplement containing 300 mg of n-3 DHA and 67 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day or an identical placebo (Sunola Oil) for the last trimester of pregnancy through the first 3 months of lactation. Outcome Measures: Neurocognitive development was measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III at 4 and 12 months of age. Gestational length was determined sing the LMP method. Results: Infants born to mothers with >600 mg n-3 DHA/day showed significantly higher scores on the 12 month cognitive scale of the BSID-III (p=0.018) compared to infants born to mothers with <300 mg n-3 DHA/day. Infants born to mothers in the n-3 DHA supplement group had an increase of 4.5 days in gestational age (p=0.048) and significantly lower incidence of preterm birth (5%; n=3) compared to infants born to mothers in the control group (18%; n=10; X2=4.97, p=0.026). Conclusions: Maternal intake of ≥600 mg n-3 DHA/day during the third trimester of gestation throughout the first three months of breastfeeding was associated with small but significant increases in gestational length and enhanced neurocognitive performance in infants at 1 year of age. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT02219399 ClinicalTrials.gov