Abstract
DHA (22:6n-3) supplementation during infancy has been associated with lower heart
rate (HR) and improved neurobehavioral outcomes. We hypothesized that maternal DHA
supplementation would improve fetal cardiac autonomic control and newborn neurobehavior.
Pregnant women were randomized to 600 mg/day of DHA or placebo oil capsules at 14.4 (+/−4) weeks gestation. Fetal HR and
HRV were calculated from magnetocardiograms (MCGs) at 24, 32 and 36 weeks gestational
age (GA). Newborn neurobehavior was assessed using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment
Scale (NBAS). Post-partum maternal and infant red blood cell (RBC) DHA was significantly
higher in the supplemented group as were metrics of fetal HRV and newborn neurobehavior
in the autonomic and motor clusters. Higher HRV is associated with more responsive
and flexible autonomic nervous system (ANS). Coupled with findings of improved autonomic
and motor behavior, these data suggest that maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy
may impart an adaptive advantage to the fetus.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 22, 2013
Accepted:
January 25,
2013
Received in revised form:
January 22,
2013
Received:
October 29,
2012
Footnotes
☆This study was supported by The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development (R21 HD059019) (KMG) and in part received core support from by the Kansas Intellectual Development and Disabilities Research Center (P30 NICHD HD 002528). The investigational product was generously donated by DSM Nutritional Products. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT01007110.
☆☆Presented as a poster at the 10th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, Vancouver, Canada, 28 May 2012.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
