Indication: Overall intelligence (in children)

Source: Pediatrics, August 2008;122(2):e472-9.

Research: Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are essential for brain growth and cognitive development. Researchers in this study have reported that supplementing pregnant and lactating women with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) promotes higher IQ scores at 4 years of age as compared with maternal supplementation with n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the present study, these children were examined at 7 years of age with the same cognitive tests as at 4 years of age. Researchers also examined the relationship between plasma fatty acid pattern and BMI (body mass index) in children, because an association between arachidonic acid and adipose tissue size has been suggested. In this randomized, double-blind study, the mothers took 10 mL of cod liver oil (n=82) or corn oil (n=61) from week 18 of pregnancy until 3 months after delivery. Their children were tested with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children at 7 years of age, and their height and weight were measured.

Results: Researchers did not find any significant differences in scores on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children test at 7 years of age between children whose mothers had taken cod liver oil or corn oil. They observed, however, that maternal plasma phospholipid concentrations of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy were correlated to sequential processing at 7 years of age. They also observed no correlation between fatty acid status at birth or during the first 3 months of life and BMI at 7 years of age. Researchers feel this study suggests that maternal concentration of long-chain PUFAs during pregnancy might be of importance for later cognitive function, such as sequential processing, but there was no significant effect of n-3 fatty acid intervention on global IQs. Further, neonatal fatty acid status had no influence on BMI at 7 years of age.