Repercussions of Maternal Omega 3 (N-3) Lc-Pufa and Mental Health on Early Neuropsychological Development

Abstract

The present doctoral thesis entitled "Repercussions of Omega 3 (n-3) AGPI-CL and Maternal Mental Health on Child Neuropsychological Development" had the general objective to investigate variables inherent to nutrition and maternal mental health related to childhood development. The first section of the thesis was a transversal cohort article that aimed to investigate the influence of maternal intake of EPA and DHA during the first trimester of pregnancy period on child cognitive development during the first two years of life. Pooled results from this study showed that high serum concentrations of DHA and EPA during the first trimester of pregnancy were positively correlated with cognitive development during the second year of life. Length at birth, socioeconomic level and parental education were also predictive variables for cognitive development at 18 and 24 months of age (Article 1). The second article of this thesis explored the effects of LCPUFA on child development through a systematic and meta-analysis review (Article 2). Based on our results, the hypothesis that supplementation with n-3 LCPUFA during pregnancy improves infant neurological development cannot be accepted or rejected based on data reported by randomized control trials included in the present review. The third article was a multiple case study conducted with three dyads (mother-baby) aiming to understand the complexity of the subjects' interrelations in their context in detail. Based on the results of this study, low levels of parental education, precarious socioeconomic conditions and unemployment may trigger maternal mental health, impacting negatively child's motor development and motivation to explore his or her own environment (Article 3). In addition, a single case study was conducted (mother-baby dyad) with the objective to investigate maternal mental health and PUC-Rio-Certificação Digital Nº 1412319/CA social support received during the perinatal period. Repercussions of these variables on child development were addressed. It has been suggested that a child's exposure to maternal mental health problems and fragile social support, accompanied by low socioeconomic status might make them more vulnerable to other factors that might impair socio-emotional and behavioral development (Article 4).