The mother’s level of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, may improve fetal neural development with lasting consequences for child development.
In this study, it was explored whether maternal fatty acid levels in red blood cells, either measured directly or indirectly by maternal genetic variants, are associated with child IQ.
Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the associations in 2839 mother-child pairs from the population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
There was evidence to support a positive association of DHA and full-scale IQ.
According to the researchers:
“These results support the positive role of maternal arachidonic acid and DHA on fetal neural development, although the effects on child IQ by 8 y of age were small, with other factors contributing more substantially.”
