Is low docosahexaenoic acid associated with disturbed rhythms and neurodevelopment in offsprings of diabetic mothers?

Abstract

Background/Objective:To evaluate the relation between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status and neurodevelopment in the offsprings of gestational diabetic mothers (ODMs).Subjects/Methods:A prospective cohort study was performed. The offspring of 63 pregnant women (23 controls, 21 diet-controlled gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 19 insulin-treated GDM) were recruited. Maternal and venous cord plasma DHA percentages were analyzed. Skin temperature and activity in children were recorded for 72 h at 3 and 6 months of life. Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II (BSID II) at 6 and 12 months of age.Results:Cord plasma DHA percentage was significantly lower in the ODMs compared with that in the controls (Control 6.43 5.04-7.82 a; GDM+diet 5.65 4.44-6.86 ab; GDM+insulin 5.53 4.45-6.61 b). Both mental (Control 102.71 97.61-107.81 a; GDM+diet 100.39 91.43-109.35 a; GDM+insulin 93.94 88.31-99.57 b) and psychomotor (Control 91.52 81.82-101.22 a; GDM+diet 81.67 73.95-89.39 b; GDM+insulin 81.89 71.96-91.85 b) scores evaluated by the BSID II were significantly lower at 6 months in ODMs, even after adjusting for confounding factors such as breastfeeding, maternal educational level and gender. Cord plasma DHA percentage correlated with the psychomotor score from BSID II (r=0.27; P=0.049) and with the intra-daily variability in activity (r=-0.24; P=0.043) at 6 months. Maternal DHA was correlated with several sleep rhythm maturation parameters at 6 months.Conclusions:Lower DHA levels in cord plasma of ODMs could affect their neurodevelopment. Maternal DHA status was also associated with higher values in the sleep rhythm maturation parameters of children. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.