Intake of marine n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and risk for epilepsy in the offspring: a population-based cohort study

Abstract

Aim of the study: To estimate if maternal intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) during pregnancy is related to the risk of epilepsy in the offspring.

Methods: We identified 65,754 live-born singletons from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC, 1996-2002) and followed them for up to 11 years of age. Information on maternal diet in the 4 weeks around the 25th gestational week was obtained from a self-administered food frequency questionnaire and maternal intake of n-3 LCPUFA was estimated from the reported amount and type of fish in diet. Information on epilepsy was obtained from the Danish National Hospital Register. Cox regression models were used to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of epilepsy.

Results: Children born to mothers in the lowest (IRR=1.28, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.67) and highest (IRR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.74) quintile of n-3 LCPUFA intake had an increased risk of epilepsy after adjustment for potential confounders compared to children born to mothers with an average intake. The associations may be related to the age of onset of epilepsy.

Conclusions: Maternal deficiency of n-3 LCPUFA and a high intake of n-3 LCPUFA perhaps related to a high consumption of contaminated fish may be associated with an increased risk of epilepsy in early childhood.