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Study Title:

DHA, Pregnancy, and Child's Obesity Risk

Study Abstract

Background: Exposure to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in early life may influence adiposity development.

Objective: We examined the extent to which prenatal n−3 (omega-3) and n−6 (omega-6) PUFA concentrations were associated with childhood adiposity.

Design: In mother-child pairs in the Project Viva cohort, we assessed midpregnancy fatty acid intakes (n = 1120), maternal plasma PUFA concentrations (n = 227), and umbilical cord plasma PUFA concentrations (n = 302). We performed multivariable regression analyses to examine independent associations of n−3 PUFAs, including docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids (DHA + EPA), n−6 PUFAs, and the ratio of n−6:n−3 PUFAs, with child adiposity at age 3 y measured by the sum of subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses (SS + TR) and risk of obesity (body mass index ≥95th percentile for age and sex).

Results: Mean (±SD) DHA + EPA intake was 0.15 ± 0.14 g DHA + EPA/d, maternal plasma concentration was 1.9 ± 0.6%, and umbilical plasma concentration was 4.6 ± 1.2%. In children, SS + TR was 16.7 ± 4.3 mm, and 9.4% of children were obese. In the adjusted analysis, there was an association between each SD increase in DHA + EPA and lower child SS + TR [−0.31 mm (95% CI: −0.58, −0.04 mm) for maternal diet and −0.91 mm (95% CI: −1.63, −0.20 mm) for cord plasma] and lower odds of obesity [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.68 (0.50, 0.92) for maternal diet and 0.09 (0.02, 0.52) for cord plasma]. Maternal plasma DHA + EPA concentration was not significantly associated with child adiposity. A higher ratio of cord plasma n−6:n−3 PUFAs was associated with higher SS + TR and odds of obesity.

Conclusion: An enhanced maternal-fetal n−3 PUFA status was associated with lower childhood adiposity.

Study Information

Sara MA Donahue, Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman, Diane R Gold, Zeina E Jouni, Matthew W Gillman, and Emily Oken.
Prenatal fatty acid status and child adiposity at age 3 y: results from a US pregnancy cohort
Am J Clin Nutr.
2011 April
Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA