Higher maternal plasma docosahexaenoic acid during pregnancy is associated with more mature neonatal sleep-state patterning.
BACKGROUND
The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the developing fetal central nervous system (CNS) and related functional outcomes in infancy remain unexplored. Sleep and wake states of newborns provide a tool for assessing the functional integrity of the CNS.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether CNS integrity in newborns, measured with sleep recordings, was associated with maternal concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially DHA.


METHODS
Plasma phospholipid fatty acid concentrations were measured in 17 women at parturition. On postpartum day 1 (P1) and day 2 (P2), a pressure-sensitive pad under the infants' bedding recorded body movements and respiratory patterns to measure sleep and wake states.


RESULTS
Maternal plasma phospholipid DHA ranged from 1.91% to 4.5% by wt of total fatty acids. On the basis of previously published data and the median DHA concentration, the women were divided into 2 groups: high DHA (> 3.0% by wt of total fatty acids) and low DHA (</= 3.0% by wt of total fatty acids). Infants of high-DHA mothers had a significantly lower ratio of active sleep (AS) to quiet sleep (QS) and less AS than did infants of low-DHA mothers. Furthermore, the former infants had less sleep-wake transition and more wakefulness on P2. Correlations of maternal DHA status with infant sleep states were consistent with these data. Also, the ratio of maternal n-6 to n-3 fatty acids on P1 was inversely associated with QS and positively associated with arousals in QS. On P2, maternal n-6:n-3 was positively associated with AS, sleep-wake transition, and AS:QS.


CONCLUSIONS
The sleep patterns of infants born to mothers with higher plasma phospholipid DHA suggest greater CNS maturity.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, the University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-4017, USA.
Sunita R
SR
Cheruku
Hawley E
HE
Montgomery-Downs
Susanna L
SL
Farkas
Evelyn B
EB
Thoman
Carol J
CJ
Lammi-Keefe
D000328:Adult; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009068:Movement; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012119:Respiration; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness
D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids