The omega smart baby project: effect of maternal DHA on infant development (269.1)

Abstract

A randomized placebo controlled trial was conducted to examine the effect of DHA on gestational length and cognitive development. 115 pregnant women were supplemented with 300 mg DHA/d or placebo during pregnancy and thru the first 3 mo of breastfeeding (BF). Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) were administered at 4 mo and 1y. Dietary DHA intake during pregnancy, was 81.9 +/‐ 5.8 mg/day (95% CI 72.3,91.5) and increased only slightly during BF. Some took prenatal vitamins with 0– 300 mg DHA per day resulting in total DHA intakes of 80 to 1100 mg/day. RBC and plasma phospholipid DHA at entry (expressed as % total fatty acids) were5.94 +/‐ 1.52 and 5.04 +/‐ 1.44 (mean +/‐ SD), respectively. Breastmilk (BM) % total DHA was .53 +/‐ .037 (mean +/‐ sem) at 2 mo and decreased to .35 +/‐ /039 at 4 mo. BM DHA was significantly greater in the DHA treatment ( p<.02) and with the highest DHA intake compared to the lowest. BM DHA was lowest in carriers of the minor allele of the delta‐5 desaturase gene. Data were analyzed by treatment and by DHA intake. DHA supplementation resulted in a 1 wk increase in gestation with a significant (p<.03) 8 d increase in gestational length comparing the highest intake of DHA( > 600 mg/d) to the lowest (< 300 mg/d). BSID cognitive and language scores were 10 points higher with high intake of DHA compared to the lowest (p<.02). Maternal DHA impacts both pregnancy outcome and subsequent development.