The influence of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on language development across childhood: Follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

N R Gawlik; M Makrides; L Kettler; L N Yelland; S Leemaqz; J F Gould

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102207

The influence of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on language development across childhood: Follow-up of a randomised controlled trial

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2020 Dec:163:102207. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102207. Epub 2020 Nov 12.

Authors

N R Gawlik¹, M Makrides², L Kettler³, L N Yelland⁴, S Leemaqz⁵, J F Gould⁶

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Electronic address: nr.gawlik@rasa.org.au.
² Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia, 5000; Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia, 5006. Electronic address: maria.makrides@sahmri.com.
³ Trinity College Gawler Inc, Alexander Avenue, Evanston South SA 5116; School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Electronic address: kettleli@trinity.sa.edu.au.
⁴ Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia, 5006; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Electronic address: lisa.yelland@adelaide.edu.au.
⁵ Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia, 5006. Electronic address: shalem.leemaqz@sahmri.com.
⁶ Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia, 5006; School of Psychology & Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Electronic address: jacqueline.gould@sahmri.com.

PMID: 33227646
DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102207

Abstract

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 <21 weeks' gestation were randomised to receive 800 mg DHA/day or a placebo until birth. A sample of 726 children (all n=96 born preterm, random sample of n=630 born at term) were invited to undergo assessments of language, academic, and language-based cognitive abilities at 1.5, four and seven years of age. No group differences were detected for any group comparison. Exploratory analyses for sex by treatment interactions revealed a possible adverse effect of DHA supplementation on the language of females at 1.5 years but no effects on outcomes at four or seven years. Taken as a whole, evidence of an effect of prenatal DHA supplementation on language abilities across childhood is negligible and could be a chance finding.

Keywords: DHA; Language; Omega-3 fatty acids; Pregnancy; Supplementation; Verbal abilities.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Dietary Supplements*
Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Language Development*
Male
Pregnancy
Prenatal Care*

Substances

Docosahexaenoic Acids

Associated data

ANZCTR/ACTRN12605000569606
ANZCTR/ACTRN12611001125910
ANZCTR/ACTRN12614000770662