title: Prenatal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and infant morbidity: randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) influence immune function and inflammation; however, the influence of maternal DHA supplementation on infant morbidity is unknown. We investigated the effects of prenatal DHA supplementation on infant morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in Mexico, pregnant women received daily supplementation with 400 mg of DHA or placebo from 18 to 22 weeks' gestation through parturition. In infants aged 1, 3, and 6 months, caregivers reported the occurrence of common illness symptoms in the preceding 15 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were available at 1, 3, and 6 months for 849, 834, and 834 infants, respectively. The occurrence of specific illness symptoms did not differ between groups; however, the occurrence of a combined measure of cold symptoms was lower in the DHA group at 1 month (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58-1.00). At 1 month, the DHA group experienced 26%, 15%, and 30% shorter duration of cough, phlegm, and wheezing, respectively, but 22% longer duration of rash (all P ≤ .01). At 3 months, infants in the DHA group spent 14% less time ill (P < .0001). At 6 months, infants in the DHA group experienced 20%, 13%, 54%, 23%, and 25% shorter duration of fever, nasal secretion, difficulty breathing, rash, and "other illness," respectively, but 74% longer duration of vomiting (all P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHA supplementation during pregnancy decreased the occurrence of colds in children at 1 month and influenced illness symptom duration at 1, 3, and 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Imhoff-Kunsch
authors.forename: Aryeh D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Reynaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martorell
authors.forename: Socorro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parra-Cabrera
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romieu
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003139:Common Cold / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D009017:Morbidity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids