Relationship between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and motor function at 7 years of age

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) rapidly accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS) during the perinatal CNS growth spurt. This particularly concerns arachidonic acid (AA: 20:4nÀ6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA: 22:6nÀ3), which are thought to play important roles in CNS development and function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between motor function at 7 years of age and the levels of AA and DHA in umbilical venous plasma phospholipids, representing the prenatal availability of these fatty acids, and in plasma phospholipids sampled at age 7 years. Subjects/Methods: Motor function was assessed both quantitatively (the ability to perform a movement) and qualitatively (how the movement is performed) with the Maastricht Motor Test (MMT) in 306 children, born at term, at 7 years of age as part of a follow-up study. Results: Backward stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed a significant, positive relation between umbilical plasma DHA concentrations (but not plasma DHA levels at 7 years) and the MMT total and quality score, corrected for the covariables gender, cognitive performance, gestational age and age at measurement (partial b ¼ 0.13, P ¼ 0.01 and 0.14, P ¼ 0.01, respectively). The contributions of DHA and AA (both at birth and at 7 years of age) to quantitative movement scores were not significant. Conclusions: Our results suggest that prenatal DHA availability, which can be influenced by maternal dietary DHA intake during pregnancy, can have an effect on quality of movement in later life.

Early life exposure to polyunsaturated fatty acids and psychomotor development in children from the EDEN mother-child cohort

“…One study using cord blood data found a positive association between DHA levels and motor development (Bakker et al, 2009), while two other studies found no relationship with cognitive development (Bakker et al, 2003;Ghys et al, 2002). Regarding maternal fish consumption, findings from existing studies are more consistent by showing positive associations with child's psychomotor development (Daniels et al, 2004;Hibbeln et al, 2007;Oken et al, 2008).…”

Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Role in Children Nourishment

“…В другом когортном исследовании показано, что высокое содержание ДГК в сыворотке крови у женщин во время беременности сопровождалось такими благо-приятными эффектами у рождаемых детей, как более упо-рядоченный показатель структуры сна в раннем детстве [46], более успешная концентрация внимания в первые 2 года жизни [47], более высокая степень моторного раз-вития и меньшее число поведенческих проблем в воз-расте 7 лет [48]. Группой сравнения в этом исследовании служили дети, матери которых во время беременности дополнительно не получали ДГК.…”

The role of omega-3 fatty acids in child development

“…Other studies did not show an association between DHA status at birth or intake during the first six months with cognitive performance at 4 or 7 yr of age (Bakker et al, 2003;Ghys et al, 2002), but a positive relationship with improved motor performance at 5 (Rask-Nissila et al, 2002) and 7 years of age (Bakker et al, 2009) (figure 2).…”

“…Five longitudinal studies, followed children form birth to childhood (Bakker et al, 2003(Bakker et al, , 2009Ghys et al, 2002;Gale et al, 2010) …”