Effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation during pregnancy on lung function in preschoolers: a clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Rationale: Prenatal omega-3 fatty acids improve alveolarization, diminish inflammation, and improve pulmonary growth, but it is unclear whether these outcomes translate into improved postnatal lung function. Objective: We assessed the effect of prenatal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on offspring lung function through 60 months of age. Methods: We included a cohort of 772 Mexican preschoolers whose mothers participated in a clinical trial (NCT00646360) of supplementation with DHA or a placebo from week 18–22 of gestation through delivery. Measurements: The children were followed after birth and anthropometric measurements and forced oscillation tests were performed at 36, 48, and 60 months of age. The effect of DHA was tested using a longitudinal mixed effect models. Results: Overall, mean (Standard Deviation) of the measurements of respiratory system resistance and respiratory system reactance at 6, 8, and 10 Hz during follow up period were 11.3 (2.4), 11.1 (2.4), 10.3 (2.2) and –5.2 (1.6), –4.8 (1.7), –4.6 (1.6), respectively. There were no significant differences in pulmonary function by treatment group. DHA did not affect the average lung function or the trajectories through 60 months. Conclusions: Prenatal DHA supplementation did not influence pulmonary function in this cohort of Mexican preschoolers.

KEYWORDS:

• Epidemiology
• pediatrics
• pregnancy
• mechanism
• prevention

Funding statement

The study was supported by the National Council of Sciences and Technology CONACYT (Grant 87121) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Award R01HD058818).

Competing interests statement

The authors declare have no competing of interest.

Role of sponsors

The sponsor had no role in the design of the study, the collection and analysis of the data, or the preparation of the manuscript. The manuscript contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Eunice Kennedy Shiver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institute of Health.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all of the study subjects for their participation in the project.

Additional information

Funding

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Award R01HD058818. The National Council of Sciences and Technology CONACYT Grant 87121.