Prenatal Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation and Offspring Development at 18 Months: Randomized Controlled Trial.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effects of prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on offspring development at 18 months of age.


METHODS
Randomized placebo double-blind controlled trial.


METHODS
Cuernavaca, Mexico.


METHODS
We followed up offspring (n = 730; 75% of the birth cohort) of women in Mexico who participated in a trial of DHA supplementation during the latter half of pregnancy. We assessed the effect of the intervention on child development and the potential modifying effects of gravidity, gender, SES, and quality of the home environment.
400 mg/day of algal DHA.


METHODS
Child development at 18 months of age measured using the Spanish version of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II. We calculated standardized psychomotor and mental development indices, and behavior rating scale scores.


RESULTS
Intent-to-treat differences (DHA-control) were: Psychomotor Developmental Index -0.90 (95% CI: -2.35, 0.56), Mental Developmental Index -0.26 (95% CI: -1.63, 1.10) and Behavior Rating Scale -0.01 (95% CI: -0.95, 0.94). Prenatal DHA intake attenuated the positive association between home environment and psychomotor development index observed in the control group (p for interaction = 0.03) suggesting potential benefits for children living in home environments characterized by reduced caregiver interactions and opportunities for early childhood stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal DHA supplementation in a population with low intakes of DHA had no effects on offspring development at 18 months of age although there may be some benefit for infants from poor quality home environments.


BACKGROUND
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00646360.
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Usha
U
Ramakrishnan
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Amanda
A
Stinger
Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Ann M
AM
DiGirolamo
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Reynaldo
R
Martorell
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Geneva, Switzerland.
Lynnette M
LM
Neufeld
Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Juan A
JA
Rivera
National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
Lourdes
L
Schnaas
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Aryeh D
AD
Stein
Family Health International 360, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
Meng
M
Wang
D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008800:Mexico; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids