Prenatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status: the importance of a balanced intake of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid

J Perinat Med. 2008;36(2):101-9. doi: 10.1515/JPM.2008.029.

Abstract

This review addresses the effect of prenatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) status on neurodevelopmental outcome. It focuses on the major LPCUFA doxosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6omega3) and arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4omega6). Due to enzymatic competition high DHA intake results in lower tissue levels of AA. LCPUFA accumulation in the brain starts early and increases during the third trimester. Initially brain AA-accretion exceeds DHA-accretion; after term age DHA-accretion surpasses AA-accretion. Animal studies indicated that early omega3-depletion results in poorer developmental outcome. They also showed that early omega3-supplementation had no effect on cognitive outcome, promotes visual development and impairs auditory and motor development. Only limited human data are available. Correlational studies suggest that neonatal AA status shows a positive relation with early neurodevelopmental outcome and that neonatal DHA status also might be correlated with improved outcome beyond infancy. Results of human intervention studies are equivocal: most studies were unable to demonstrate a positive effect of prenatal omega3-supplementation. It is concluded that only limited evidence exists to support the notion that prenatal omega3-supplementation favours developmental outcome. Caution is warranted for an unbalanced high DHA intake during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, i.e., DHA without additional AA supplementation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Brain / growth & development*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*

Substances

  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Arachidonic Acid