title: Neurologic condition of healthy term infants at 18 months: positive association with venous umbilical DHA status and negative association with umbilical trans-fatty acids.
abstract: Prenatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and trans-fatty acids may affect neurodevelopment. In healthy term children, we determined relationships between relative fatty acid contents of umbilical arteries and veins and neurodevelopment at 18 mo. The study comprised a mixed group of 317 breast-fed, formula-fed, and LCPUFA formula-fed children. Study endpoints were the Hempel neurologic examination resulting in a neurologic classification and neurologic optimality score (NOS), and the Bayley Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) and Mental Developmental Index (MDI). Fifteen children showed minor neurologic dysfunction (MND). The umbilical vein trans, trans-18:2n-6 content was higher in children with MND than in the normal group. The NOS was significantly reduced in infants with an umbilical vein docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content within the lowest quartile. Umbilical vein arachidonic acid (AA) was related to NOS in univariate statistics but not in multivariate analyses. The sum of trans-fatty acids and that of C18 trans-fatty acids showed a negative association with NOS in both univariate and multivariate analyses. No associations were found between AA, DHA and total trans-fatty acids with PDI or MDI. In conclusion, neonates with a relatively low DHA status and those with high trans-fatty acid levels have a less favorable neurologic condition at 18 mo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, Perinatal Nutrition and Development Unit, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hylco
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouwstra
authors.forename: Janneke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dijck-Brouwer
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decsi
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: E Rudy
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Boersma
authors.forename: Frits A J
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Muskiet
authors.forename: Mijna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadders-Algra
mesh_terms: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase