Oily fish intake during pregnancy: association with lower hyperactivity but not with higher full-scale IQ in offspring
Gale, Catharine R., Robinson, Sian M., Godfrey, Keith M., Law, Catherine M., Schlotz, Wolff and O'Callaghan, F.J. (2008) Oily fish intake during pregnancy: association with lower hyperactivity but not with higher full-scale IQ in offspring. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, (10), 1061-1068. (doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01908.x).
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Description/Abstract
Background: Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are thought to be important for fetal neurodevelopment. Animal studies suggest that a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids may lead to behavioural or cognitive deficits. As oily fish is a major dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, it is possible that low intake of fish during pregnancy may have adverse effects on the developing fetal brain.
Methods: We used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence to assess behavioural problems and intelligence in 217 nine-year-old children. The mothers of these children had participated in a study of nutrition during pregnancy during which fish intake was assessed in early and late gestation.
Results: Children whose mothers had eaten oily fish in early pregnancy had a reduced risk of hyperactivity compared to those whose mothers did not eat oily fish: OR .34, 95% CI .15 to .78, after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Children whose mothers had eaten fish (whether oily or non-oily) in late pregnancy had a verbal IQ that was 7.55 points higher (95% CI .75 to 14.4) than those whose mothers did not eat fish. There were, however, no significant associations between fish intake in pregnancy and other behavioural problems or full-scale and performance intelligence, after adjustment for potential confounding factors.
Conclusions: Although maternal fish intake in pregnancy was associated with hyperactivity scores and verbal IQ in children, in general, how much fish women ate during pregnancy appeared to have little long-term relation with neurodevelopmental outcomes in their child.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| ISSNs: | 0021-9630 (print) |
| Related URLs: | |
| Keywords: | intelligence, behaviour problems, diet, pregnancy, fish intake, hyperactivity, omega-3 fatty acids, nutrition, pre-natal |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services |
| Divisions: | University Structure - Pre August 2011 > School of Psychology > Division of Human Wellbeing |
| Item ID: | 52582 |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jul 2008 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Mar 2012 12:50 |
| Contributors: | Gale, Catharine R. (Author) Robinson, Sian M. (Author) Godfrey, Keith M. (Author) Law, Catherine M. (Author) Schlotz, Wolff (Author) O'Callaghan, F.J. (Author) |
| Date: | October 2008 |
| Status: | Published |
| Contact Email Address: | crg@mrc.soton.ac.uk |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/52582 |
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