Effects of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy and/or lactation on neurodevelopment and visual function in children: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
- Forfatter(e)
- Dziechciarz, P. Horvath, A. Szajewska, H.
- År
- 2010
- Tidsskrift
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
- Sider
- 443-54
- Kategori(er)
- Kognisjon (hukommelse, oppmerksomhet og eksekutive funksjoner)
- Tiltakstype(r)
- Tiltak rettet mot gravide og barselkvinner Kosttilskudd og ernæring
- Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effects of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation of pregnant and/or lactating women on the neurodevelopment and visual function of their children.
METHODS: Systematic review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing n-3 LCPUFA maternal supplementation were identified through electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library) and the references of reviewed articles.
RESULTS: Overall, 13 publications, some with important methodological limitations, were included. With regard to supplementation during pregnancy, among 3 RCTs that evaluated this intervention, 1 RCT (n = 72) showed significantly better eye and hand coordination assessed with the Griffiths Mental Development Scales at 30 months of age. Another RCT (n = 29) demonstrated an effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on the cloth step of intentional solutions of the 2-step problem-solving test. No other effects were demonstrated. There was no consistent effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy on the children's visual acuity. With regard to supplementation during lactation, among 3 RCTs that assessed this intervention, 1 RCT (n =133) showed significant improvement on the Bayley Psychomotor Development Index in 30-month-old children; however, there was no influence of such supplementation on the results of different tests performed in the same group of children or in others. There was no consistent effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during lactation on the children's visual function. Supplementation during pregnancy and lactation (3 RCTs) did not affect child neurodevelopment assessed up to 7 years of age.
CONCLUSION: Evidence from RCTs does not demonstrate a clear and consistent benefit of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy and/or lactation on child neurodevelopment and visual acuity. These results should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations of the included studies.