title: Maternal characteristics influence response to DHA during pregnancy.
abstract: We explored the degree to which maternal and offspring outcomes resulting from consuming prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 800mg/day) in a clinical trial were influenced by maternal characteristics. Among non-smokers, women who received DHA had heavier babies (adjusted mean difference (MD)=99g 95% CI 45-153, p<0.01; interaction p=0.01) and fewer low birth weight babies than control women (adjusted relative risk=0.43 95% CI 0.25-0.74, p<0.01; interaction p=0.01). From women who had not completed further education, children in the DHA group had higher cognitive scores at 18 months compared with control children (adjusted MD=3.15 95% CI 0.93-5.37, p=0.01; interaction p<0.01). Conversely, the children of women who completed further education in the DHA group had lower language scores than control children (adjusted MD -2.82 95% CI -4.90 to -0.73, p=0.01; interaction p=0.04). Our results support the notion that responsiveness to prenatal DHA may depend on the characteristics of specific population subgroups.
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gould
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yelland
authors.affiliation: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; FOODplus Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, Australia; South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; Discipline of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: maria.makrides@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makrides
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: DHA; Omega-3 fatty acids; Pregnancy; Supplementation