title: Maternal consumption of a DHA-containing functional food benefits infant sleep patterning: an early neurodevelopmental measure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) is highly important during pregnancy for optimal development and functioning of fetal neural tissue. Infant ability to organize sleep and wake states following parturition is highly associated with later developmental outcomes. The impact of maternal DHA intake on sleep organization has not been previously investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of a DHA-containing functional food consumed during pregnancy on early neurobehavioral development as assessed by infant sleep patterning in the first 48 postnatal hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (18-35 y) with no pregnancy complications consumed a cereal-based functional food (92 kcal) containing 300 mg DHA an average of 5 d/week or placebo bars (n=27 DHA, n=21 Placebo). The intervention began at 24 weeks gestation and continued until delivery (38-40 weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  Infant sleep/wake states were measured on postnatal days 1 (D1) and 2 (D2) using a pressure sensitive mattress recording respiration and body movements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using ANCOVA and controlling for ethnic variation, there were significant group differences in arousals in quiet sleep on D1 (P=0.006) and D2 (P=0.011) with fewer arousals in the DHA intervention group compared to the placebo group. Similarly, arousals in active sleep on D1 were significantly lower in the DHA-intervention group (P=0.012) compared to the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that increased prenatal supply of dietary DHA has a beneficial impact on infant sleep organization.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, School of Nursing, Storrs, CT 06269-2026, USA. michelle.judge@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Michelle P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Judge
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Harel
authors.forename: Amber B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Courville
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lammi-Keefe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D055951:Functional Food; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010919:Placebos; D017286:Polysomnography; D011247:Pregnancy; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids