title: DHA supplementation during pregnancy does not reduce BMI or body fat mass in children: follow-up of the DHA to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has proven effective at reducing fat storage in animal studies. However, a systematic review of human trials showed a lack of quality data to support or refute this hypothesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether maternal DHA supplementation during the second half of pregnancy results in a lower body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a follow-up at 3 and 5 y of age of children who were born to mothers enrolled in the DOMInO (DHA to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome) double-blind, randomized controlled trial, in which women with a singleton pregnancy were provided with DHA-rich fish-oil capsules (800 mg DHA/d) or vegetable-oil capsules (control group) in the second half of pregnancy. Primary outcomes were the BMI z score and percentage of body fat at 3 and 5 y of age. Potential interactions between prenatal DHA and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) genotype as a measure of the genetic predisposition to obesity were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1614 children were eligible for the follow-up. Parent or caregiver consent was obtained for 1531 children (95%), and these children were included in the analysis. BMI z scores and percentages of body fat of children in the DHA group did not differ from those of children in the control group at either 3 y of age [BMI z score adjusted mean difference: 0.03 (95% CI: -0.07, 0.13; P = 0.61); percentage of body fat adjusted mean difference: -0.26 (95% CI: -0.99, 0.46; P = 0.47)] or 5 y of age [BMI z score adjusted mean difference: 0.02 (95% CI: -0.08, 0.12; P = 0.66); percentage of body fat adjusted mean difference: 0.11 (95% CI: -0.60, 0.82; P = 0.75)]. No treatment effects were modified by the PPARγ genotype of the child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independent of a genetic predisposition to obesity, maternal intake of DHA-rich fish oil during the second half of pregnancy does not affect the growth or body composition of children at 3 or 5 y of age. This trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN1260500056906 and ACTRN12611001127998.
authors.affiliation: Child Nutrition Research Centre, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, Women's and Children's Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia; FOODplus Research Centre, Department of Wine and Food Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and Schools of beverly.muhlhausler@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Beverly S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Muhlhausler
authors.affiliation: Child Nutrition Research Centre, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, Women's and Children's Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia; Public Health and.
authors.forename: Lisa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yelland
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia; College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia;
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.affiliation: Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia;
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tapsell
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia; and.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McPhee
authors.affiliation: Child Nutrition Research Centre, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, Women's and Children's Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia; FOODplus Research Centre, Department of Wine and Food Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and Schools of.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Child Nutrition Research Centre, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, Women's and Children's Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia; Pediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makrides
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D005395:Fish Oils; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010919:Placebos; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: body composition; growth; maternal nutrition; omega-3; pregnancy