Sean Moloughney, Editor06.04.21
Children born to mothers who took fish oil during pregnancy showed faster problem-solving skills and better attention focus at age 10, according to results from an EU funded study presented at the 6th World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
Researchers said this marks the first study to examine the long-term effect of maternal supplementation with fish oil and/or 5-MTHF (folic acid) on resting state functioning—when a person is not engaged in a cognitive or active task—among school-age children.
“The results demonstrate that the quality of maternal nutrient supply during the period of rapid early brain development in pregnancy has a lasting impact on later brain function at school age,” said one of the study's authors, Berthold Koletzko, head of metabolic and nutritional medicine at Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Germany. “Women before and during pregnancy should therefore be supported in achieving a good quality diet and be counseled on potential fish oil supplement use.”
Research also offered evidence that children born to mothers who had taken fish oil during the second half of pregnancy had improved memory, noted Christina Campoy, coordinator of the study and director of the EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research at the University of Granada, Spain.
The study followed up on 57 children of mothers from a previous research program who had been given 500 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 150 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day, either with or without 400 µg of 5-MTHF (folic acid), folic acid alone, or placebo, during the second half of their pregnancies.
“The results from this study indicate that early nutrition during pregnancy can have a significant impact on brain development in children, with the potential to enhance cognitive performance. We look forward to the outcomes of this study being tested in further trials,” said Magnus Domellöf, chair of the ESPGHAN Nutrition Committee.
Sean Moloughney has been the Editor of Nutraceuticals World since 2012. He can be reached at SMoloughney@RodmanMedia.com.
Researchers said this marks the first study to examine the long-term effect of maternal supplementation with fish oil and/or 5-MTHF (folic acid) on resting state functioning—when a person is not engaged in a cognitive or active task—among school-age children.
“The results demonstrate that the quality of maternal nutrient supply during the period of rapid early brain development in pregnancy has a lasting impact on later brain function at school age,” said one of the study's authors, Berthold Koletzko, head of metabolic and nutritional medicine at Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Germany. “Women before and during pregnancy should therefore be supported in achieving a good quality diet and be counseled on potential fish oil supplement use.”
Research also offered evidence that children born to mothers who had taken fish oil during the second half of pregnancy had improved memory, noted Christina Campoy, coordinator of the study and director of the EURISTIKOS Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research at the University of Granada, Spain.
The study followed up on 57 children of mothers from a previous research program who had been given 500 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 150 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day, either with or without 400 µg of 5-MTHF (folic acid), folic acid alone, or placebo, during the second half of their pregnancies.
“The results from this study indicate that early nutrition during pregnancy can have a significant impact on brain development in children, with the potential to enhance cognitive performance. We look forward to the outcomes of this study being tested in further trials,” said Magnus Domellöf, chair of the ESPGHAN Nutrition Committee.
Sean Moloughney has been the Editor of Nutraceuticals World since 2012. He can be reached at SMoloughney@RodmanMedia.com.
