The association between linoleic acid levels in colostrum and child cognition at 2 and 3 y in the EDEN cohort

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding has been associated with improved cognitive development. This may be explained by polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of breast milk, especially long-chain (LC) PUFA that are needed for postnatal brain growth. Methods: Using data from the French EDEN cohort, we aimed to study whether the PUFA content of colostrum may explain observed associations between breastfeeding duration and cognitive scores at 2 and 3 y. A total of 709 breastfed children with available data on PUFA composition of milk were assessed using parent-reported questionnaires for motor and language at 2 y of age, or global cognition at 3 y. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine associations between PUFA levels and child cognitive scores, after controlling for many confounders. results: We found no association between LCPUFA levels in colostrum and child development. However, levels of linoleic acid (LA) were negatively associated with motor and cognitive scores, independently of breastfeeding duration. Children breastfed with the highest levels of LA tended to score closer to the never breastfed children than children breastfed with the lowest levels of LA. conclusion: Our findings suggest that too high levels of LA in colostrum are associated with poorer child development at 2 and 3 y.

Association between maternal intake of n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio during pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment at 6 months of age: results of the MOCEH cohort study

“…Several cohort studies reported a negative relation between maternal n-6/n-3 PUFAs status and infant and child neurodevelopment assessed by various tests [4, 7–9] and these reports partly confirmed our results. The Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study (SCDS) [4] reported that maternal n-6/n-3 PUFAs in serum was negatively associated with the BSID-II PDI at 9 months of age but not at 30 months.…”

“…The Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study (SCDS) [4] reported that maternal n-6/n-3 PUFAs in serum was negatively associated with the BSID-II PDI at 9 months of age but not at 30 months. The EDEN mother-child cohort in France showed that maternal dietary n-6/n-3 PUFAs intakes among never-breastfed children were negatively associated with the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) at 2 years of age and with the ASQ at 3 years of age [8], while the n-6/n-3 PUFAs in colostrum among breastfed children was negatively associated with the ASQ at 3 years of age [9]. Recently, the Generation R study in the Netherlands [7] demonstrated that a higher maternal plasma n-3/n-6 PUFAs was associated with fewer emotional problems in children at 6 years of age.…”

“…Similarly, Bernard et al [8] found no association between n-3 fatty acid intake and the CDI in infants at 2 years of age and the ASQ at 3 years of age. In contrast, however, other researchers found a positive association between n-3 fatty acids in maternal serum and the PDI in infants aged 9 months [4] and a negative association between n-6 fatty acids in colostrum and the ASQ in infants at 3 years of age [9]. These disparities may be explained by the differences in assessing the fatty acid intake, in infant age at assessment and in the composition of total n-3 fatty acids (ALA, ETA, EPA, DPA, and DHA vs. ALA, EPA, and DHA), as well as potential confounders in the analysis.…”

“…Neurodevelopment occurs predominantly during the last trimester of pregnancy when brain growth is most rapid and the LC-PUFAs continue to accumulate during the first 2 years after birth [2]. Earlier cohort studies have consistently reported that the maternal LC-PUFAs status can influence the cognitive and psychomotor development of infants [4–9]. …”

“…Cohort studies in Seychelles [4] and France [9], reported that maternal n-6/n-3 PUFAs, in serum and in colostrum, respectively, were negatively associated with the Bayley scales of infant development edition II (BSID-II) at 9 months of age and with the ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ) at 3 years of age, respectively. A recent cohort study in the Netherlands reported that higher maternal DHA and n-3/n-6 PUFAs were associated with fewer emotional problems in children at 6 years [7].…”