Maternal fatty acids in pregnancy, FADS polymorphisms, and child intelligence quotient at 8 y of age.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brain tissue is selectively enriched with highly unsaturated fatty acids (FAs). Altering the maternal FA status in pregnancy may improve fetal neural development with lasting consequences for child development.

Objective

We explored whether maternal FAs in erythrocytes, either measured directly or indirectly by maternal FADS genetic variants, are associated with child intelligence quotient (IQ).

Design

Linear regression analyses, adjusted for 18 confounders, were used to investigate the associations in 2839 mother-child pairs from the population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort.

Results

Low levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) were associated with lower performance IQ (-2.0 points; 95% CI: -3.5, -0.6 points; P = 0.007, inc

SUBMITTER: Steer CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6404851 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature