DHA status is positively related to motor development in breastfed African and Dutch infants

Abstract

Objectives

Docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids are important for neurodevelopment. We investigated the relation between erythrocyte (RBC) DHA and AA contents and neurological development, by assessment of General Movements (GMs), in populations with substantial differences in fish intakes.

Methods

We included 3-month-old breastfed infants of three Tanzanian tribes: Maasai (low fish, n = 5), Pare (intermediate fish, n = 32), and Sengerema (high fish, n = 60); and a Dutch population (low–intermediate, fish, n = 15). GMs were assessed by motor optimality score (MOS) and the number of observed movement patterns (OMP; an MOS sub-score). RBC-DHA and AA contents were determined by capillary gas chromatography.

Results

We found no between-population differences in MOS. OMP of Sengerema infants (high fish) was higher than OMP of Dutch infants (low–intermediate fish). MOS related to age. OMP related positively to infant age (P < 0.001) and RBC-DHA (P = 0.015), and was unrelated to ethnicity and RBC-AA.

Discussion

The positive relation between RBC-DHA and the number of observed movement patterns of 3-month old infants might reflect the connection of DHA with motor development.

Keywords:

• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• Arachidonic acid (AA)
• General movements
• Fish intake Tanzania
• Neurodevelopment

Acknowledgements

We thank NIMR Tanzania for their correspondence and help in the writing of our proposal for ethical clearance. We further thank Prof. J.J.M. van Roosmalen, Prof. S. Massawe, Prof. A. Massawe, Prof. G.V. Mann, J. van der Meulen, P. Gunneweg, P. Schwerzel, R. Shaffer, Dr J. Changalucha, Dr C. van Rij, Sr. M.J. Voeten, J. Lugalla, G. Msafiri, N. Mchomvu, S. Mazzuki, rafiki Martini, and all other staff, doctors and nurses from the local hospitals in Tanzania for their help in our project. We thank Dr M. Volmer, I.A. Martini, H.J.R Velvis, and M.B.T. Velvis for their statistical and technical assistance and the VSB Foundation and FrieslandCampina (Dr A. Schaafsma) for their financial support.