Omega-3 intake during last months of pregnancy

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A study supervised by Universit Laval scientists Gina Muckle and ric Dewailly reveals that omega-3 intake during the last months of pregnancy boosts an infants sensory, cognitive, and motor development. The details of this finding are published in a recent edition of the Journal of Pediatrics.

To come to this conclusion, scientists first measured docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrationa type of omega-3 fatty acid involved in the development of neurons and retinasin the umbilical cord blood of 109 infants. DHA concentration in the umbilical cord is a good indicator of intra-uterine exposure to omega-3s during the last trimester of pregnancy, a crucial period for the development of retinal photoreceptors and neurons, explains Dr. Dewailly.

Tests conducted on these infants at 6 and 11 months revealed that their visual acuity as well as their cognitive and motor development were closely associated with DHA concentration in the umbilical cord blood at the time of their birth. However, there was very little relation between test results and DHA concentration in a mothers milk among infants who were breast-fed. These results highlight the crucial importance of prenatal exposure to omega-3s in a childs development, points out Dr. Muckle.

Scientists found that DHA concentration in the umbilical cord blood was in direct relation with the concentration found in a mothers blood, a reminder of the importance of a mothers diet in providing omega-3 fatty acids for the fetus. They also noted that DHA concentration was higher in the fetuss blood than in the mothers. While developing its nervous system, a fetus needs great quantities of DHA. It can even transform other types of omega-3s into DHA in order to develop its brain, explains Dr. Dewailly.

For the members of the research team, there is no doubt that all pregnant women should be encouraged to get sufficient amounts of omega-3s. A diet rich in omega-3s during pregnancy cant be expected to solve everything, but our results show that such a diet has positive effects on a childs sensory, cognitive, and motor development. Benefits from eating fish with low contaminant levels and high omega-3 contents, such as trout, salmon, and sardines, far outweigh potential risks even during pregnancy, conclude the researchers.


Posted by: Emily    Source