Prenatal and early postnatal supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: neurodevelopmental considerations

Abstract

It takes >20 y before the human brain obtains its complex adult configuration. Most dramatic neurodevelopmental changes occur prenatally and early postnatally, including a major transformation in cortical organization 3-4 mo after term. The long-lasting changes have practical implications for studies evaluating the effect of prenatal and early postnatal supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). Whether studies of the effect of supplementation will reveal an effect not only depends on the dosage and duration of supplementation but also on 1) the timing of supplementation, 2) the age at which the outcome is assessed, 3) the application of age-specific sensitive neurodevelopmental tools, and 4) the functional domain evaluated. Studies of the effects of prenatal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or fish oil have provided inconsistent results. However, maternal and neonatal concentrations of DHA and arachidonic acid are associated with improved outcomes in early infancy, and concentrations of DHA are associated with favorable neurodevelopmental outcome beyond early infancy. Studies of LC-PUFA supplementation in preterm infants have not shown evidence of a positive effect on neurodevelopmental outcome. Similar studies in full-term infants have indicated that supplementation with 0.30% DHA (by wt) promotes neurodevelopmental outcome in early infancy, but positive effects on later outcome have not been shown. However, information on the effects on outcomes at school age or later is virtually absent. This article stresses the need for long-term longitudinal studies that apply age-specific, sensitive neurodevelopmental tools, which also take into account lifestyle habits, maternal prepregnancy nutritional status, and genetic variation in metabolism.