Increased Maternal Prenatal Adiposity, Inflammation, and Lower Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels Influence Child Negative Affect

Abstract

ObjectiveIncreased maternal adiposity during pregnancy is associated with offspring risk for psychiatric disorders. Inflammation secondary to adiposity is believed to be an important mechanism through which this effect occurs. Although increased adiposity introduces risk, not all children of overweight mothers develop these problems. Gestational factors that modify this risk are not well-understood. If maternal increased adiposity exerts its effects on offspring outcomes by increasing inflammation in the gestational environment, then anti-inflammatory inputs such as omega-3 fatty acids may be one protective factor. The goal of this study was to investigate whether maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and omega-3 fatty acid levels independently and/or interactively predicted offspring infant negative affect, an early life marker of risk for psychopathology.MethodsData came from a prospective study of women recruited during pregnancy and their 6 month old infants (N = 62; 40% female). Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was pulled from medical charts and third trimester omega-3 fatty acid concentrations were assessed in plasma. Child negative affect was assessed using observer- and maternal-ratings at 6 months of age. Maternal inflammation was indexed by third trimester plasma levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.ResultsMaternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with increased infant negative affect whereas eicosapentaenoic acid was associated with less infant negative affect. Maternal omega-3 fatty acid levels moderated the effect of BMI on infant negative affect, such that omega-3 fatty acids buffered children against the negative consequences of increased adiposity. Supporting the role of maternal inflammation in these associations, maternal BMI and omega-3 fatty acid levels interacted to predict maternal third trimester inflammation. Further, maternal inflammation was associated with increased infant negative affect.ConclusionResults suggest that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy may protect against offspring behavioral risk associated with increased maternal adiposity.

Electroencephalogram aperiodic power spectral slope can be reliably measured and predicts ADHD risk in early development

“…For example, in a sample enriched for ADHD, Gustafsson et al. (2019) demonstrate that maternal omega‐3 fatty acid levels may partially mitigate the effects of other early neurodevelopmental risk factors. Future studies addressing similar dietary and other nonstimulant interventions, as well as developmental windows in which such effects might be most potent will be critical for informing treatment recommendations.…”

Microglial Function in the Effects of Early-Life Stress on Brain and Behavioral Development

“…There are several studies, however, that demonstrate the involvement of both ω-3 fatty acids and oxytocin in development. For example, higher levels of ω-3 fatty acids in maternal milk are associated with better temperament in children [157], and reduce negative affect and inflammation in children that have mothers with high levels of adiposity [158], while lower levels of oxytocin have been related to experiences of severe emotional neglect and abuse in childhood in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples [159,160]. Children raised in orphanages who experienced neglect have also been shown to have lower oxytocin plasma levels [161].…”

Parsing ADHD With Temperament Traits

“…Previous work in animals has shown that maternal prenatal cytokines (immunoregulatory proteins) influence brain development and behavior in offspring (Schaafsma et al, 2017), and prior human studies have shown that they are associated with offspring's behavior in toddlerhood (Graham et al, 2018). However, the relation between maternal prenatal cytokines and offspring's ADHD symptoms at a later age, when these Gustafsson et al, 2018Gustafsson et al, , 2019Gustafsson et al, , 2020.…”

“…Fig.3. Model of the association between maternal prenatal distress and children's symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as mediated both by maternal inflammation in the third trimester (measured by cytokines in the blood) and by infants' negative affect at the age of 6 months (observed in a laboratory temperament task; data fromGustafsson et al, 2018Gustafsson et al, , 2019Gustafsson et al, , 2020. The serial mediation path from prenatal distress to maternal inflammation to 6-month negative affect to ADHD at age 4 to 6 was reliable, but barely (p = .05).…”