Maternal Docosahexaenoic Acid Status during Pregnancy and Its Impact on Infant Neurodevelopment

Abstract

Dietary components are essential for the structural and functional development of the brain. Among these, docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3 (DHA), is critically necessary for the structure and development of the growing fetal brain in utero. DHA is the major n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in brain gray matter representing about 15% of all fatty acids in the human frontal cortex. DHA affects neurogenesis, neurotransmitter, synaptic plasticity and transmission, and signal transduction in the brain. Data from human and animal studies suggest that adequate levels of DHA in neural membranes are required for maturation of cortical astrocyte, neurovascular coupling, and glucose uptake and metabolism. Besides, some metabolites of DHA protect from oxidative tissue injury and stress in the brain. A low DHA level in the brain results in behavioral changes and is associated with learning difficulties and dementia. In humans, the third trimester-placental supply of maternal DHA to the growing fetus is critically important as the growing brain obligatory requires DHA during this window period. Besides, DHA is also involved in the early placentation process, essential for placental development. This underscores the importance of maternal intake of DHA for the structural and functional development of the brain. This review describes DHA’s multiple roles during gestation, lactation, and the consequences of its lower intake during pregnancy and postnatally on the 2019 brain development and function.

Does Maternal Arachidonic Acid Influence the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid?

“…Free fatty acids (FFAs) are transported into the cytosol with the help of cell membraneand cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) [12]. There are four classes of fatty acid transport proteins present in the adult brain: Fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), plasma membrane-fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPpm), fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs), and cytosolic FABPs [35,62,63].…”

“…Mfsd2a transports lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-DHA, but not unesterified DHA [12,57,59,64]. The DHA-LPC produced from DHA-containing phosphatidylcholine when acted upon by PLA1.…”

Does Maternal Arachidonic Acid Influence the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid?

“…DHA also has a role in the early placentation process and development of the fetal brain during the last trimester of pregnancy [38][39][40]. The high-affinity placental plasma membrane, fatty acid-binding protein (p-FABPpm), is involved in DHA and ARA's maternal transport to the fetus [12,35,41]. Since the rapid deposition of DHA into the brain occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy and subsequently in lactation, the maternal DHA status must be maintained well during the critical time of brain development.…”

“…The preferential transfer of maternal LCPUFAs such as DHA and ARA by the placenta to fetal circulation and its mechanisms are reviewed extensively [11,12].…”

“…Though precise molecular mechanisms are not well defined, DHA and its bioactive derivatives play various essential functions in the brain [12,27,28]. High DHA levels in the phospholipids of synaptic membranes provide membrane flexibility and improve the efficiency of protein-protein interaction necessary for signal transduction [27].…”