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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a component of neural tissue. Because its accretion into the brain is greatest during the final trimester of pregnancy, infants born before 29 weeks' gestation do not receive the normal supply of DHA. The effect of this deficiency on subsequent cognitive development is not well understood.We assessed general intelligence at 5 years in children who had been enrolled in a trial of neonatal DHA supplementation to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In the previous trial, infants born before 29 weeks' gestation had been randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive an enteral emulsion that provided 60 mg of DHA per kilogram of body weight per day or a control emulsion from the first 3 days of enteral feeds until 36 weeks of postmenstrual age or discharge home, whichever occurred first. Children from 5 of the 13 centers in the original trial were invited to undergo assessment with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) at 5 years of corrected age. The primary outcome was the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) score. Secondary outcomes included the components of WPPSI.A total of 1273 infants underwent randomization in the original trial; of the 656 surviving children who had undergone randomization at the centers included in this follow-up study, 480 (73%) had an FSIQ score available - 241 in the DHA group and 239 in the control group. After imputation of missing data, the mean (±SD) FSIQ scores were 95.4±17.3 in the DHA group and 91.9±19.1 in the control group (adjusted difference, 3.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.38 to 6.53; P = 0.03). The results for secondary outcomes generally did not support that obtained for the primary outcome. Adverse events were similar in the two groups.In infants born before 29 weeks' gestation who had been enrolled in a trial to assess the effect of DHA supplementation on bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the use of an enteral DHA emulsion until 36 weeks of postmenstrual age was associated with modestly higher FSIQ scores at 5 years of age than control feeding. (Funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and Nu-Mega Ingredients; N3RO Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number, ACTRN12612000503820.).

IntroductionBreastmilk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition. Breast feeding is recommended as the sole source of nutrition between birth until around 6 months of age and should be continued beyond this age as complementary foods are introduced. While breast feeding initiation is generally high in developed countries, continuation of breast feeding appears to drop rapidly. This is a prospective observational study of life that aims to characterise a current picture of infant feeding practices across the first year, and motivations for feeding practices, and to identify barriers and enablers for breast feeding.Methods and analysisCaregivers with newborn singleton infants of normal birth weight are approached on the postnatal units of three hospitals in South Australia, or through targeted online advertising campaigns promoting the study. Caregivers are asked to complete surveys when their infant reaches 3, 5 and 7 weeks’, and at 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Initially, baseline characteristics, intentions and preferences for infant milk feeds, as well as reasons for preferences are captured. Latter surveys query how infants are being fed, difficulties or barriers to breast feeding, as well as any enablers (if breast feeding). Once infants reach 5 months of age, surveys capture complementary feeding. A large opportunistic sample from the Adelaide community with a minimum of 1000 mother–infant pairs will be enrolled. The data will be analysed descriptively and using regression models.Ethics and disseminationWomen’s and Children’s Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee reviewed and approved the study (approval no HREC/19/WCHN/140, approval date: 22 November 2019). Study results will be disseminated through academic meetings, peer-reviewed journals, in-services for postnatal healthcare services, results letters for participants and social media.Trial registration numberACTRN12620000529943.

IntroductionObservational studies suggest both low and high iodine intakes in pregnancy are associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. This raises concern that current universal iodine supplement recommendations for pregnant women in populations considered to be iodine sufficient may negatively impact child neurodevelopment. We aim to determine the effect of reducing iodine intake from supplements for women who have adequate iodine intake from food on the cognitive development of children at 24 months of age.Methods and analysisA multicentre, randomised, controlled, clinician, researcher and participant blinded trial with two parallel groups. Using a hybrid decentralised clinical trial model, 754 women (377 per group) less than 13 weeks’ gestation with an iodine intake of ≥165 µg/day from food will be randomised to receive either a low iodine (20 µg/day) multivitamin and mineral supplement or an identical supplement containing 200) µg/day (amount commonly used in prenatal supplements in Australia), from enrolment until delivery. The primary outcome is the developmental quotient of infants at 24 months of age assessed with the Cognitive Scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, fourth edition. Secondary outcomes include infant language and motor development; behavioural and emotional development; maternal and infant clinical outcomes and health service utilisation of children. Cognitive scores will be compared between groups using linear regression, with adjustment for location of enrolment and the treatment effect described as a mean difference with 95% CI.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted from the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Research Ethics Committee (HREC/17/WCHN/187). The results of this trial will be presented at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT04586348.

Infants born preterm (less than 37 weeks completed gestation) have a higher risk of suboptimal cognitive and behavioral outcomes when compared with their term-born counterparts. The risk and severity of poor outcome increases as gestational age at birth decreases; however, not all children born preterm will develop deficits, and environmental influences post birth may have a role in shaping developmental outcomes. Whilst early preterm birth is not preventable, it may be possible to intervene after birth via the environment in order to improve outcomes. The diathesis-stress theory hypothesizes that vulnerable individuals will have worse outcomes after a negative environmental exposure, whereas the differential susceptibility theory posits that vulnerable (or plastic) individuals can be both adversely and positively affected by environmental factors. These two theories were compared in 535 children born

Introduction During the last trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain undergoes a rapid growth spurt and accumulates essential nutrients including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This takes place ex-utero for infants born

BACKGROUND: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) supplementation in the prenatal period is associated with a reduction in the incidence of some symptoms of allergic disease. Infants born preterm are at increased risk of allergic disease, but it is unknown if DHA supplementation reduces the risk of childhood allergies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine if supplementation of infants born at

Introduction Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid that accumulates into neural tissue during the last trimester of pregnancy, as the fetal brain is undergoing a growth spurt. Infants born

IntroductionDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid that accumulates into neural tissue during the last trimester of pregnancy, as the fetal brain is undergoing a growth spurt. Infants born Methods and analysisN3RO was a randomised controlled trial of enteral DHA supplementation (60 mg/kg/day) or a control emulsion (without DHA) in 1273 infants born In this follow-up at 5 years’ corrected age, a predefined subset (n=655) of children from five Australian sites will be invited to attend a cognitive assessment with a psychologist. Children will be administered the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (fourth edition) and a measure of inhibitory control (fruit stroop), while height, weight and head circumference will be measured.The primary outcome is full-scale IQ. To ensure 90% power, a minimum of 592 children are needed to detect a four-point difference in IQ between the groups.Research personnel and families remain blinded to group assignment.Ethics and disseminationThe Women’s and Children Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee reviewed and approved the study (HREC/17/WCHN/187). Caregivers will give informed consent prior to taking part in this follow-up study. Findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration numberACTRN12612000503820.

This is a review of randomized controlled trials using docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) interventions in the first 1000 days of life with assessments of behavioral functioning in childhood. Electronic databases were searched for trials with a DHA intervention (compared with a placebo group that received no or less DHA) at any time to either women or infants during the first 1000 days, with a subsequent assessment of child behavior. There were 25 trials involving 10,320 mother–child pairs, and 71 assessments of behavior in 6867 of the children (66.5% of those originally enrolled). From the 71 assessments administered, there were 401 comparisons between a DHA group and a control group, with most reporting a null effect. There were no findings of a positive effect of DHA, and 23 instances where the DHA group had worse scores compared with the control group. There was limited evidence that DHA supplementation had any effect on behavioral development, although two of the largest trials with behavioral measures detected adverse effects. Future trials, and future follow-ups of existing trials, should make an effort to evaluate the effect of DHA intervention on behavioral functioning.

Infants born preterm miss out on the peak period of in utero DHA accretion to the brain during the last trimester of pregnancy which is hypothesised to contribute to the increased prevalence of neurodevelopmental deficits in this population. This study aimed to determine whether DHA supplementation in infants born preterm improves attention at 18 months’ corrected age. This is a follow-up of a subset of infants who participated in the N3RO randomised controlled trial. Infants were randomised to receive an enteral emulsion of high-dose DHA (60 mg/kg per d) or no DHA (soya oil – control) from within the first days of birth until 36 weeks’ post-menstrual age. The assessment of attention involved three tasks requiring the child to maintain attention on toy/s in either the presence or absence of competition or a distractor. The primary outcome was the child’s latency of distractibility when attention was focused on a toy. The primary outcome was available for seventy-three of the 120 infants that were eligible to participate. There was no evidence of a difference between groups in the latency of distractibility (adjusted mean difference: 0·08 s, 95 % CI –0·81, 0·97; P = 0·86). Enteral DHA supplementation did not result in improved attention in infants born preterm at 18 months’ corrected age.

Objectives To compare the classification of preterm postnatal poor growth using healthy preterm vs fetal growth references and to examine associations with neurodevelopmental impairment in infancy and childhood. Study design We included 613 infants born at 0.8 SD (weight), >1 SD (head), and >2 SD (length). We used generalized estimating equations to estimate aOR for neurodevelopmental impairment at 18 months and 7 years of corrected age, comparing infants with and without poor growth by each reference, accounting for multiple births and covariates. Results The prevalence of poor growth was higher with INTERGROWTH-21st than with fetal references for all measurements. Agreement was higher between the Fenton and Olsen (fetal) growth references (0.72-0.81) than between INTERGROWTH-21st and fetal references (0.41-0.59). Poor growth by fetal references (but not by INTERGROWTH-21st) was associated with low neurodevelopmental scores in infancy and childhood. Poor weight gain using the Fenton reference was associated with 18-month Mental Developmental Index Conclusions Poor neonatal growth categorized using fetal references showed stronger associations with long term neurodevelopment than poor growth categorized using the INTERGROWTH-21st standards.

AIM Infants born preterm (

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most prevalent mood disorder associated with childbirth. No single cause of PPD has been identified, however the increased risk of nutritional deficiencies incurred through the high nutritional requirements of pregnancy may play a role in the pathology of depressive symptoms. Three nutritional interventions have drawn particular interest as possible non-invasive and cost-effective prevention and/or treatment strategies for PPD; omega-3 (n-3) long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), vitamin D and overall diet. Methods We searched for meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCT's) of nutritional interventions during the perinatal period with PPD as an outcome, and checked for any trials published subsequently to the meta-analyses. Results Fish oil: Eleven RCT's of prenatal fish oil supplementation RCT's show null and positive effects on PPD symptoms. Vitamin D: no relevant RCT's were identified, however seven observational studies of maternal vitamin D levels with PPD outcomes showed inconsistent associations. Diet: Two Australian RCT's with dietary advice interventions in pregnancy had a positive and null result on PPD. Limitations With the exception of fish oil, few RCT's with nutritional interventions during pregnancy assess PPD. Conclusions Further research is needed to determine whether nutritional intervention strategies during pregnancy can protect against symptoms of PPD. Given the prevalence of PPD and ease of administering PPD measures, we recommend future prenatal nutritional RCT's include PPD as an outcome.

BackgroundChildren born preterm (ObjectiveTo explore the differences in psychometric scores for cognition and motor skills when they are age-standardized according to chronological age instead of corrected age for children born preterm.MethodsWe assessed = 554 children born ndedition (mental and motor scores) at 18 months and the Weschler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (IQ score) at seven years of age. Scores were standardized according to chronological age and corrected age and differences between mean chronological and corrected scores were compared, along with the proportion of children whose scores could be classified as impaired.ResultsWhen scores were standardized according to chronological age instead of corrected age there was a large significant difference of 17.3 points on the mental scale (79.5 vs. 96.8, respectively) and 11.8 points on the motor scale (84.8 vs. 96.6, respectively) at 18 months. By seven years, the difference in IQ scores remained, although of a smaller magnitude at 1.9 points between mean chronological and corrected age scoring (97.2 vs. 99.1, respectively).ConclusionConsistent with previous literature, outcome assessments for preterm infants consistently differed according to use of chronological or corrected age to standardized scores. Cognitive scores were impacted more severely than motor scores, and differences were more substantial in early childhood than later in childhood. For clinical purposes, correction for preterm birth is only likely to have an impact during early childhood, however assessments for research purposes should continue to correct into childhood to account for the persistent bias due to preterm birth.

Background Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under five. A recent Cochrane review found a 42% reduction in early preterm birth ( Methods A ten-minute survey was conducted online to assess the knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and intentions of Australian pregnant women across three domains: (1) preterm birth; (2) nutrition and supplementation during pregnancy; and (3) omega-3 fatty acid consumption to prevent preterm birth. Participants were recruited from Survey Sampling International’s research panels. Results Of the 763 women who completed the survey, less than two-thirds had heard of preterm birth. Over 55% of respondents had changed their diet during pregnancy and a prenatal dietary supplement was consumed by 82% of the women surveyed. Respondents’ main source of information about preterm birth and nutrition during pregnancy was from a health professional. When asked about their intentions to increase their omega-3 fatty acid intake following a health professional’s recommendation, the vast majority of participants indicated they would increase their omega-3 fatty acid intake (90%). When a hypothetical scenario was presented of an omega-3 fatty acid supplement being offered from a health service at no cost, the number of respondents who selected they would increase their intake through supplementation increased from 54 to 79%. Conclusions The main information source for women about preterm birth and dietary supplementation recommendations during pregnancy is their health professional. Therefore, informing women about ways to prevent preterm birth, including the role of omega-3 fatty acids, should occur during antenatal visits. The results from our study are useful for clinicians caring for pregnant women and for the next stage of translation of the Cochrane review findings – the design of implementation strategies to increase the intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy where needed.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that accumulates in neural tissues during intrauterine development, particularly in the frontal lobes of the brain. The frontal lobes are responsible for a suite of cognitive abilities referred to as ‘executive functions.’ Executive function skills include attention, working memory (the ability to mentally manipulation information), and inhibitory control (the ability to control or supress inappropriate actions). In this chapter, we briefly review the development of the human brain and the accumulation of DHA in the brain. The main focus is on summarizing the evidence from randomized controlled trials that have supplemented pregnant women with DHA and measured the effects on children’s executive functions. We provide details of the different assessments of executive function that have been used in trials, and summarize the evidence base with respect to dose of DHA used in trials and age when executive functions are measured. We conclude with some recommendations for future trials in this area.

IntroductionDuring the last trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain undergoes a rapid growth spurt and accumulates essential nutrients including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This takes place ex-utero for infants born Methods and analysisInfants born Ethics and disseminationThe Women’s and Children Health Network Human Research Ethics Committee reviewed and approved the study (HREC/16/WCHN/184). Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration numberACTRN12612000503820.

Numerous randomised controlled trials have explored the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation in early life on neurodevelopment, with some suggested positive effects on language. Australian women with a singleton pregnancy

We explored the degree to which maternal and offspring outcomes resulting from consuming prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 800mg/day) in a clinical trial were influenced by maternal characteristics. Among non-smokers, women who received DHA had heavier babies (adjusted mean difference (MD)=99g 95% CI 45-153, p

This review summarizes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation in the first 1000 days on child language. Six databases were searched and RCTs were included if they involved supplementation with DHA during pregnancy, to preterm infants, or during the postpartum period, included a placebo group with less or no DHA, and reported a language outcome. We included 29 RCTs involving n = 10,405 participants from 49 publications. There was a total of 84 language measures at ages ranging from 3 months to 12 years. Of the 84 assessments, there were 4 instances where the DHA group had improved scores, and 2 instances where the DHA group had worse scores (with the majority of these significant effects found within one RCT). The remaining comparisons were null. A few RCTs that included subgroup analyses reported (inconsistent) effects. There was limited evidence that DHA supplementation had any effect on language development, although there were some rare instances of both possible positive and adverse effects, particularly within population subgroups. It is important that any subgroup effects are verified in future trials that are adequately powered to confirm such effects.

BACKGROUND: Higher intakes of foods containing omega‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), such as fish, during pregnancy have been associated with longer gestations and improved perinatal outcomes. This is an update of a review that was first published in 2006. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of omega‐3 LCPUFA, as supplements or as dietary additions, during pregnancy on maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes and longer‐term outcomes for mother and child. SEARCH METHODS: For this update, we searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth’s Trials Register, ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (16 August 2018), and reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing omega‐3 fatty acids (as supplements or as foods, stand‐alone interventions, or with a co‐intervention) during pregnancy with placebo or no omega‐3, and studies or study arms directly comparing omega‐3 LCPUFA doses or types. Trials published in abstract form were eligible for inclusion. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, assessed risk of bias in trials and assessed quality of evidence for prespecified birth/infant, maternal, child/adult and health service outcomes using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: In this update, we included 70 RCTs (involving 19,927 women at low, mixed or high risk of poor pregnancy outcomes) which compared omega‐3 LCPUFA interventions (supplements and food) compared with placebo or no omega‐3. Overall study‐level risk of bias was mixed, with selection and performance bias mostly at low risk, but there was high risk of attrition bias in some trials. Most trials were conducted in upper‐middle or high‐income countries; and nearly half the trials included women at increased/high risk for factors which might increase the risk of adverse maternal and birth outcomes. Preterm birth < 37 weeks (13.4% versus 11.9%; risk ratio (RR) 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81 to 0.97; 26 RCTs, 10,304 participants; high‐quality evidence) and early preterm birth < 34 weeks (4.6% versus 2.7%; RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.77; 9 RCTs, 5204 participants; high‐quality evidence) were both lower in women who received omega‐3 LCPUFA compared with no omega‐3. Prolonged gestation > 42 weeks was probably increased from 1.6% to 2.6% in women who received omega‐3 LCPUFA compared with no omega‐3 (RR 1.61 95% CI 1.11 to 2.33; 5141 participants; 6 RCTs; moderate‐quality evidence). For infants, there was a possibly reduced risk of perinatal death (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.03; 10 RCTs, 7416 participants; moderate‐quality evidence: 62/3715 versus 83/3701 infants) and possibly fewer neonatal care admissions (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.03; 9 RCTs, 6920 participants; moderate‐quality evidence ‐ 483/3475 infants versus 519/3445 infants). There was a reduced risk of low birthweight (LBW) babies (15.6% versus 14%; RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99; 15 trials, 8449 participants; high‐quality evidence); but a possible small increase in large‐for‐gestational age (LGA) babies (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.36; 6 RCTs, 3722 participants; moderate‐quality evidence, for omega‐3 LCPUFA compared with no omega‐3. Little or no difference in small‐for‐gestational age or intrauterine growth restriction (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.13; 8 RCTs, 6907 participants; moderate‐quality evidence) was seen. For the maternal outcomes, there is insufficient evidence to determine the effects of omega‐3 on induction post‐term (average RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.22 to 2.98; 3 trials, 2900 participants; low‐quality evidence), maternal serious adverse events (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.72; 2 trials, 2690 participants; low‐quality evidence), maternal admission to intensive care (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.12 to 2.63; 2 trials, 2458 participants; low‐quality evidence), or postnatal depression (average RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.77; 2 trials, 2431 participants; low‐quality evidence). Mean gestational length was greater in women who received omega‐3 LCPUFA (mean difference (MD) 1.67 days, 95% CI 0.95 to 2.39; 41 trials, 12,517 participants; moderate‐quality evidence), and pre‐eclampsia may possibly be reduced with omega‐3 LCPUFA (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.01; 20 trials, 8306 participants; low‐quality evidence). For the child/adult outcomes, very few differences between antenatal omega‐3 LCPUFA supplementation and no omega‐3 were observed in cognition, IQ, vision, other neurodevelopment and growth outcomes, language and behaviour (mostly low‐quality to very low‐quality evidence). The effect of omega‐3 LCPUFA on body mass index at 19 years (MD 0, 95% CI ‐0.83 to 0.83; 1 trial, 243 participants; very low‐quality evidence) was uncertain. No data were reported for development of diabetes in the children of study participants. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In the overall analysis, preterm birth < 37 weeks and early preterm birth < 34 weeks were reduced in women receiving omega‐3 LCPUFA compared with no omega‐3. There was a possibly reduced risk of perinatal death and of neonatal care admission, a reduced risk of LBW babies; and possibly a small increased risk of LGA babies with omega‐3 LCPUFA. For our GRADE quality assessments, we assessed most of the important perinatal outcomes as high‐quality (e.g. preterm birth) or moderate‐quality evidence (e.g. perinatal death). For the other outcome domains (maternal, child/adult and health service outcomes) GRADE ratings ranged from moderate to very low, with over half rated as low. Reasons for downgrading across the domain were mostly due to design limitations and imprecision. Omega‐3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy is an effective strategy for reducing the incidence of preterm birth, although it probably increases the incidence of post‐term pregnancies. More studies comparing omega‐3 LCPUFA and placebo (to establish causality in relation to preterm birth) are not needed at this stage. A further 23 ongoing trials are still to report on over 5000 women, so no more RCTs are needed that compare omega‐3 LCPUFA against placebo or no intervention. However, further follow‐up of completed trials is needed to assess longer‐term outcomes for mother and child, to improve understanding of metabolic, growth and neurodevelopment pathways in particular, and to establish if, and how, outcomes vary by different types of omega‐3 LCPUFA, timing and doses; or by characteristics of women.

Introduction Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accumulates in the frontal lobes (responsible for higher-order cognitive skills) of the fetal brain during the last trimester of pregnancy. Infants born preterm miss some of this in utero provision of DHA, and have an increased risk of suboptimal neurodevelopment. It is thought that supplementing infants born preterm with DHA may improve developmental outcomes. The aim of this follow-up is to determine whether DHA supplementation in infants born preterm can improve areas of the brain associated with frontal lobe function, namely attention and distractibility. Methods and analysis We will assess a subset of children from the N-3 (omega-3) Fatty Acids for Improvement in Respiratory Outcomes (N3RO) multicentre double-blind randomised controlled trial of DHA supplementation. Infants born

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential for optimal development of the fetus, especially the brain, nervous, and visual systems. The fetus has a limited capacity to synthesize eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA, and therefore relies almost exclusively on EPA/DHA transferred across the placenta from the maternal circulation. Failure to accumulate sufficient n-3 LCPFUA during the last trimester of pregnancy has long-term impacts on developmental outcomes, and growth-restricted and preterm infants are at highest risk of early DHA deficits. Besides maternal dietary DHA intake, placental metabolism and n-3 LCPUFA transfer, biomagnification, fetal synthesis, and metabolism, also play an important role in determining fetal DHA (and EPA) concentrations. However, while an adequate supply of n-3 LCPUFA is essential for fetal and infant growth and development, there is limited evidence that supplying additional n-3 LCPUFA to mothers during pregnancy or to term infants who are not overtly deficient has any additional benefits for cognitive, visual, or metabolic outcomes in the infant.

Infants born preterm (37 weeks' gestation) are at risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes; hence, many neonatal centres routinely follow up infants using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID), although the predictive validity of the BSID for children born preterm is questionable. Our objective is to evaluate the predictive capacity of the BSID for behavioural functioning at school age of children born preterm.Children (n = 657 children born33 weeks' gestation) were enrolled at birth from five neonatal centres around Australia. A psychologist assessed child development at 18 months using the BSID-II. When children were 7 years (corrected age) of age, parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and the Conners 3rd Edition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Index. We explored associations between BSID-II at 18 months and behaviour scores at 7 years and examined the interaction effect of the use of an allied health service between the BSID-II and behaviour assessments.For every one-point increase on the BSID-II Mental Development Index, behaviour scores decreased by 0.07 points for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Total Difficulties (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.10, -0.03), 0.12 points for the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Global Executive Composite (95% CI -0.21, -0.04) and 0.16 points for the Conners 3rd Edition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Index (95% CI -0.26, -0.05).The BSID-II at 18 months was weakly associated with parent-reported behaviour at 7 years in children born preterm.

The period of complementary feeding (6-24 months of age) can be a challenging and vulnerable time for infant nutrition due to disproportionately high requirements for metabolic processes, rapid developmental processes, and limited gastric capacity. This is a period of crucial brain development where high caloric intake is necessary to allow synaptogenesis (creation of channels between neurons for communication), and maintenance of established synapses, myelination (laying the myelin sheath around neuronal axons) and everyday psychological functioning. Key nutrients needed for infant brain development include iron (required for oxygen provision to metabolize energy), fatty acids (for cellular membranes and myelin) and protein (for structural support, such as in myelin). Deficiencies in key nutrients during the complementary feeding period have been consistently linked to child development outcomes. Observational studies have consistently demonstrated links between nutrient deficiencies and impairments in intellectual abilities, work capacity, behavioral functioning and even delayed mental and motor development. Yet results from a number of interventions using food, individual nutrients or multiple micronutrients with child development assessments are mixed, possibly partly due to differences in interventions (nutrients and timing), populations, baseline nutrient status, sample sizes, attrition and method of assessment.

Background: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) accumulates in the hippocampus and frontal lobes of the fetal brain during the last trimester of pregnancy. These areas of the brain contribute to attention and working memory and inhibitory control (WMIC). Objective: We evaluated the effect of maternal omega-3 (n23) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy on child attention and WMIC. Design: A total of 185 term-born children of mothers who were randomly allocated to consume 800 mg DHA/d (treatment) or a placebo (control) from w20 wk of gestation until birth were assessed with multiple measures of attention and WMIC at a mean (6SD) of 27 6 2 mo. Primary outcomes were the average time it took to be distracted when playing with a toy (distractibility) and the accuracy of remembering a new hiding location while inhibiting a learned response to search in the previous location (WMIC). Results: Assessments were completed by 81 children in the treatment group (mean 6 SD age: 8356 50.4 d) and 77 children in the control group (839 6 65.6 d). There was no effect of supplementation on primary outcomes [distractibility mean difference: 20.2 s (95% CI: 20.7, 0.4 s); WMIC mean difference: 8.9 mm (95% CI: 210.6, 28.3 mm)]. There was no difference between DHA-supplemented and control groups except that treatment-group children looked away from the toys fewer times than controls when presented with multiple toys competing for attention but less accurately remembered a repeated hiding location. These secondary effects were not consistent with any other outcomes and may have been a result of chance. Cord plasma DHA was not consistently associated with attention and WMIC. Conclusion: Maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy does not enhance attention or WMIC in term-born preschoolers. The DHA for Maternal and Infant Outcomes trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN1260500056906. Am J Clin Nutr 2014;99:851–9.

The association between fetal vitamin D [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)] exposure and early child growth and neurodevelopment is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cord blood 25(OH)D and birth size, childhood growth and neurodevelopment.Cord blood samples from 1040 Australian women enrolled in a randomised trial of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during pregnancy were analysed for 25(OH)D using mass spectroscopy. Infant length, weight and head circumference were measured at delivery. A sub-sample of 337 infants with cord blood samples were selected for growth and neurodevelopment assessment at 18 months and 4 years of age. Associations between standardised 25(OH)D and outcomes were assessed, taking into account DHA treatment, social and demographic variables.Standardised 25(OH)D in cord blood was not associated with length, weight or head circumference at birth, 18 months or 4 years of age. 25(OH)D was not associated with cognitive, motor, social-emotional or adaptive behaviour scores at 18 months, or cognitive score at 4 years of age. A 10 nmol/L increase in cord blood 25(OH)D was associated with a modest increase in average Language scores of 0.60 points at 18 months (adjusted 95% CI 0.04-1.17, P = .04) and 0.68 points at 4 years (adjusted 95% CI 0.07-1.29, P = .03) of age.Cord blood vitamin D was modestly, positively associated with language development in early childhood in our sample, although the magnitude of the association was small. Randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm a causal association and establish the potential clinical significance of the relationship between vitamin D status and language development.

Background Observational studies have implicated low serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)) levels in the development of mood disorders. Postpartum depression (PPD) is an important public health issue, although little is known about its association with serum 25(OH)D. Aims To determine the association between 25(OH)D at delivery and the subsequent risk of PPD at six weeks and six months postpartum in a large cohort of Australian women. Materials and Methods Cord blood samples from 1040 women participating in the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to Optimise Maternal Infant Outcome randomised controlled trial were analysed for 25(OH)D by mass spectroscopy. Maternal PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at six weeks and six months postpartum. The association between standardised 25(OH)D and PPD was assessed, taking into account DHA treatment, social and demographic variables. Results There was no association between cord blood 25(OH)D concentration at delivery and PPD at either six weeks or six months postpartum. Cord blood 25(OH)D 25–50 and >50 nmol/L at delivery was associated with decreased risk of PPD at six weeks postpartum compared with 25(OH)D

Background: Maternal fish consumption during pregnancy has been positively associated with cognitive and visual abilities in the offspring, leading to the hypothesis that maternal omega-3 (n23) long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) supplementation improves children’s neurologic and visual development. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effect of maternal omega-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy on neurologic and visual development in the offspring. Design: Five electronic databases were searched. Human randomized controlled trials that supplemented the maternal diet with omega-3 LCPUFAs during pregnancy, or pregnancy and lactation, and that assessed either neurologic or visual development of the offspring were included. Trial quality was assessed, and the results of eligible trials were compared in meta-analyses. Results: Eleven RCTs involving 5272 participants were included in the review. Most trials had methodologic limitations. No differences in standardized psychometric test scores for cognitive, language, or motor development were observed between the LCPUFA-supplemented and control groups, except for cognitive scores in 2‐5-y-old children, in whom supplementation resulted in higher Developmental Standard Scores (mean difference: 3.92; 95% CI: 0.77, 7.08; n = 156; P = 0.01). However, this effect was from 2 trials with a high risk of bias. Because of the variety of visual assessments and age ranges, it was not possible to combine studies with visual outcomes in a meta-analysis, alth ough 6o f the 8a ssessments in 5 trials reported no difference between the supplemented and control groups. Conclusion: The evidence does not conclusively support or refute that omega-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy improves cognitive or visual development. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10. 3945/ajcn.112.045781.

Introduction Despite recommendations that pregnant women increase their docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake to support fetal brain development, a recent systematic review found a lack of high-quality data to support the long-term effects of DHA supplementation on children's neurodevelopment. Methods and analysis We will assess child neurodevelopment at 7 years of age in follow-up of a multicentre double-blind randomised controlled trial of DHA supplementation in pregnancy. In 2010–2012, n=2399 Australian women with a singleton pregnancy

Objective To determine if improvements in cognitive outcome detected at 18 months’ corrected age (CA) in infants born