Taking DHA during pregnancy improves attention in children

DHA capsules during pregnancy improve attention in children

Docosahexaenoic fatty acid (DHA) is an important component of the brain, so there is a biologically justified belief in its potential benefits. DHA capsules have been proven to provide many benefits, and improved concentration in children is one of the advantages of taking DHA capsules.

The results of the POSGRAD (Prenatal Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Child Growth and Development) research indicate a connection between prenatal intake of dietary supplements at a dose of 400 mg DHA per day and improved attention in children aged 5 years.

The study included 1,094 Mexican women who were randomly assigned to two groups: one group received DHA and the other placebo, from the 18th to the 22nd week of pregnancy until the birth of the children. The scientists evaluated the data of almost 800 children aged 5 years.

The results showed that, although there was no significant difference in basic cognitive functions and behavior between the groups, a significant improvement was observed in children whose mothers took DHA capsules during pregnancy. The authors point out that the evidence of the impact of improving the mother's diet on the child's cognitive abilities during the first 1000 days of life does not come to the fore before the children start school and feel the challenges of the environment. The long-term significance of these findings and the impact of the POSGRAD intervention on cognitive and biobehavioral functions during education have yet to be determined.

The differences should be more visible when children start school

The shortcoming of this research is that the scientists did not measure status omega-3 fatty acids both in mothers and offspring. The research would gain significance if it were known whether all children of mothers who took nutritional supplements had a higher DHA status and whether greater benefits were achieved in children with a higher DHA status. It was concluded that all future research involving intervention with omega-3 fatty acids should also include measurements of omega-3 fatty acid status.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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