Maternal Omega-3 Fatty Acids Plays a Role in Childhood Weight Management

A new study reports that maternal and fetal omega-3 levels impact the weight of the child at 3 years of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of weight gain among children and adolescents has nearly tripled since 1980. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 17 percent of children and adolescents have weight management issues.

Pregnant women were evaluated mid-pregnancy for fatty acid intake and plasma concentrations of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Umbilical cord omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were also measured. At 3 years of age, the children from these mothers were evaluated for adiposity including subscapular (shoulder) and triceps skin-fold thicknesses and body mass index, which is a calculation based on age, weight, height and sex. The researchers examined the relationship between childhood adiposity and levels of omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), omega-6 fatty acids, and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids.

The study revealed that 9.4 percent of the children in this study had weight management issues. The data indicated that as maternal and fetal EPA and DHA increased, skin-fold thickness in the children decreased. More specifically, higher maternal intake of DHA and EPA was associated with a 32 percent decrease in the likelihood of the child having weight gain issues. Increased umbilical cord levels of EPA and DHA were associated with a 48 percent reduction in the likelihood of childhood weight management issues. A higher ratio of omega-6/omega-3 in the umbilical cord blood was associated with an increase in skin-fold thickness in the children and likelihood of weight management issues.

The researchers concluded, “An enhanced maternal-fetal omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status was associated with lower childhood adiposity.”

Reference:

Donahue SM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Gold DR, Jouni ZE, Gillman MW, Oken E. Prenatal fatty acid status and child adiposity at age 3 y: results from a US pregnancy cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Apr;93(4):780-8.