Higher maternal plasma docosahexaenoic acid during pregnancy is associated with more mature neonatal sleep-state patterning
Open Access
- 1 September 2002
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Elsevier BV in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Vol. 76 (3), 608-613
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/76.3.608
Abstract
Background: The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the developing fetal central nervous system (CNS) and related functional outcomes in infancy remain unexplored. Sleep and wake states of newborns provide a tool for assessing the functional integrity of the CNS. Objective: We investigated whether CNS integrity in newborns, measured with sleep recordings, was associated with maternal concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially DHA. Design: Plasma phospholipid fatty acid concentrations were measured in 17 women at parturition. On postpartum day 1 (P1) and day 2 (P2), a pressure-sensitive pad under the infants' bedding recorded body movements and respiratory patterns to measure sleep and wake states. Results: Maternal plasma phospholipid DHA ranged from 1.91% to 4.5% by wt of total fatty acids. On the basis of previously published data and the median DHA concentration, the women were divided into 2 groups: high DHA (> 3.0% by wt of total fatty acids) and low DHA (≤ 3.0% by wt of total fatty acids). Infants of high-DHA mothers had a significantly lower ratio of active sleep (AS) to quiet sleep (QS) and less AS than did infants of low-DHA mothers. Furthermore, the former infants had less sleep-wake transition and more wakefulness on P2. Correlations of maternal DHA status with infant sleep states were consistent with these data. Also, the ratio of maternal n−6 to n−3 fatty acids on P1 was inversely associated with QS and positively associated with arousals in QS. On P2, maternal n−6:n−3 was positively associated with AS, sleep-wake transition, and AS:QS. Conclusion: The sleep patterns of infants born to mothers with higher plasma phospholipid DHA suggest greater CNS maturity.This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- The role of n-3 fatty acids in visual and cognitive development; Current evidence and methods of assessmentThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1994
- Sleep in premature and fullterm infants from 24-hour home recordingsInfant Behavior and Development, 1994
- Reliability and validity of computer scoring of behavioral sleep-wake states in rats and rabbitsPhysiology & Behavior, 1993
- Sleep cyclicity in infants during the earliest postnatal weeksPhysiology & Behavior, 1989
- Sleep states of infants monitored in the home: Individual differences, developmental trends, and origins of diurnal cyclicityInfant Behavior and Development, 1989
- Comparisons of behavioral, motoric and electrical criteria for assessment of sleep-wake states in the rabbitPhysiology & Behavior, 1983
- STATE ORGANIZATION IN NEONATES: DEVELOPMENTAL INCONSISTENCY INDICATES RISK FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DYSFUNCTIONNeuropediatrics, 1981
- Sleep states and wakefulness in human infants: Profiles from motility monitoringPhysiology & Behavior, 1979
- Sleep-wake states in infant rabbits: Profiles from motility monitoringPhysiology & Behavior, 1979
- Cord blood fatty acid composition in infants and in their mothers during the third trimesterThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1978