Maternal dietary omega fatty acid intake and auditory brainstem-evoked potentials in Mexican infants born at term: cluster analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify biological and socioeconomic factors associated with the neurological development of Mexican infants born at term, as measured by brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs).


METHODS
We conducted a cohort study among 76 women with low risk pregnancies recruited in their third trimester of pregnancy and followed their infants until 12 months of age. BAEP tests were conducted on the infants before 3 months of age during physiologic sleep, using 100 msec bipolar clicks. Maternal dietary intake was evaluated by food frequency questionnaire. Two BAEP groups (short latency, long latency) were identified by cluster analysis. The association between BAEP group and maternal PUFAs was estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for socioeconomic and biological factors.


RESULTS
Short latency BAEPs were associated with a maternal diet rich in arachidonic acid (OR=3.63, 95% CI 1.23-10.67) after adjusting for age (in days) sex, head circumference and gestational age but was not significantly associated to a maternal diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest the importance of arachidonic acid intake during pregnancy for short latency BAEPs and adequate fetal myelination.
Parra-Cabrera
Socorro
S
National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Moreno-Macias
Hortensia
H
Mendez-Ramirez
Ignacio
I
Schnaas
Lourdes
L
Romieu
Isabelle
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6