Impulsivity-based thrifty eating phenotype and the protective role of n-3 PUFAs intake in adolescents

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects brain responses to palatable foods and whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain) serum levels moderate the association between IUGR and brain and behavioral responses to palatable foods. Brain responses to palatable foods were investigated using a functional magnetic resonance imaging task in which participants were shown palatable foods, neutral foods and non-food items. Serum DHA was quantified in blood samples, and birth weight ratio (BWR) was used as a proxy for IUGR. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) was used to evaluate eating behaviors. In the contrast palatable food > neutral items, we found an activation in the right superior frontal gyrus with BWR as the most important predictor; the lower the BWR (indicative of IUGR), the greater the activation of this region involved in impulse control/decision making facing the viewing of palatable food pictures versus neutral items. At the behavioral level, a general linear model predicting external eating using the DEBQ showed a significant interaction between DHA and IUGR status; in IUGR individuals, the higher the serum DHA, the lower is external eating. In conclusion, we suggest that IUGR moderates brain responses when facing stimuli related to palatable foods, activating an area related to impulse control. Moreover, higher intake of n-3 PUFAs can protect IUGR individuals from developing inappropriate eating behaviors, the putative mechanism of protection would involve decreasing intake in response to external food cues in adolescents/young adults.

Prenatal predictors of objectively measured appetite regulation in low‐income toddlers and preschool‐age children

“…The observed associations between lower BWz and greater eating in the absence of hunger among girls are consistent with prior evidence that IUGR and LBW are associated with greater external and restrained eating, neuronal response to viewing of palatable foods in children, objectively assessed impulsive eating in girls, and sweet taste preference . This study contributes to this growing but still small body of evidence by demonstrating associations between lower birthweight and an objective measure of appetite regulation.…”

“…Our study adds to the extant literature regarding birthweight and child appetite regulation by providing some of the first evidence for associations across the full spectrum of birthweight and child eating behaviour, including large birth size (LGA or high birthweight), which is strongly associated with later obesity . A small number of studies examine birthweight as a continuous variable, finding less picky eating and less neuronal response to food with increasing birthweight . Yet, consideration of only linear associations may distort associations by precluding identification of adverse outcomes at both the lower and higher ends of the spectrum of birth size.…”

“…Among the even smaller number of studies to examine objectively measured appetite regulation, young children born with IUGR (compared with those with normal birth size) have demonstrated greater impulsive eating ascertained with a snack delay test . Similarly, adolescents born with lower birthweight experience elevated neural activation in response to viewing palatable foods . In summary, human evidence is consistent with mechanistic understanding of prenatal influences on neurocircuitry that drive appetite regulation but remains small, focused on children born with LBW, based outside of the United States, and largely based on parent‐reported eating behaviours.…”

“…14 Similarly, adolescents born with lower birthweight experience elevated neural activation in response to viewing palatable foods. 11 In summary, human evidence is consistent with mechanistic understanding of prenatal influences on neurocircuitry that drive appetite regulation but remains small, focused on children born with LBW, based outside of the United States, and largely based on parentreported eating behaviours.…”

Early environmental influences on the development of children's brain structure and function

“…55 The supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fats directly to the offspring exposed to prenatal adversity also seems to be associated with less brain oxidative damage in rodents. 58 Infants born to mothers who report high prenatal stress and low partner support exhibit higher cortisol reactivity relative to those whose mothers report high support, suggesting that partner support may buffer the impact of prenatal stress on infant cortisol reactivity. For instance, we have shown that children exposed to poor fetal growth have better inhibitory control when consuming n-3 polyunsaturated fats, 57 reflected in patterns of prefrontal cortex activation in functional MRI in adolescents.…”