title: Prenatal DHA supplementation and infant attention.
abstract: Results of randomized trials on the effects of prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on infant cognition are mixed, but most trials have used global standardized outcomes, which may not be sensitive to effects of DHA on specific cognitive domains.
  
  
  
  Women were randomized to 600 mg/d DHA or a placebo for the last two trimesters of pregnancy. Infants of these mothers were then followed on tests of visual habituation at 4, 6, and 9 mo of age.
  
  
  
  DHA supplementation did not affect look duration or habituation parameters but infants of supplemented mothers maintained high levels of sustained attention (SA) across the first year; SA declined for the placebo group. The supplemented group also showed significantly reduced attrition on habituation tasks, especially at 6 and 9 mo.
  
  
  
  The findings support with the suggestion that prenatal DHA may positively affect infants' attention and regulation of state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Byron J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gajewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: D Jill
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shaddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kerling
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Jocelynn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thodosoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Washington University of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Tasha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana.
authors.forename: Caitlin C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Brez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids