Exploring correlations between neuropsychological measures and domain-specific consistency in associations with n-3 LCPUFA status in 8-9 year-old boys and girls

Nutritional Quality Implications: Exploring the Impact of a Fatty Acid-Rich Diet on Central Nervous System Development

Given the comprehensive examination of the role of fatty acid-rich diets in central nervous system development in children, this study bridges significant gaps in the understanding of dietary effects on neurodevelopment. It delves into the essential functions of fatty acids in neurodevelopment, including their contributions to neuronal membrane formation, neuroinflammatory modulation, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. Despite the acknowledged importance of these nutrients, this review reveals a lack of comprehensive synthesis in current research, particularly regarding the broader spectrum of fatty acids and their optimal levels throughout childhood. By consolidating the existing knowledge and highlighting critical research gaps, such as the effects of fatty acid metabolism on neurodevelopmental disorders and the need for age-specific dietary guidelines, this study sets a foundation for future studies. This underscores the potential of nutritional strategies to significantly influence neurodevelopmental trajectories, advocating an enriched academic and clinical understanding that can inform dietary recommendations and interventions aimed at optimizing neurological health from infancy.

Sex differences in hippocampal-dependent memory and the hippocampal lipidome in adolescent rats raised on diets with or without DHA

Recent studies suggest the effects of DHA supplementation on human memory may differ between females and males during infancy, adolescence, and early adulthood, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. As a result, this study sought to examine the spatial memory and brain lipidomic profiles in female and male adolescent rats with or without a DHA-enriched diet that began perinatally with the supplementation of dams. Spatial learning and memory were examined in adolescent rats using the Morris Water Maze beginning at 6 weeks of age and animals were sacrificed at 7 weeks of age to permit isolation of brain tissue and blood samples. Behavioral testing showed that there was a significant diet x sex interaction for two key measures of spatial memory (distance to zone and time spent in the correct quadrant during the probe test), with female rats benefiting the most from DHA supplementation. Lipidomic analyses suggest levels of arachidonic acid (ARA) and n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) containing phospholipid species were lower in the hippocampus of DHA supplemented compared with control animals, and principal component analyses revealed a potential dietary treatment effect for hippocampal PUFA. Females fed DHA had slightly more PE P-18:0_22:6 and maintained levels of PE 18:0_20:4 in the hippocampus in contrast with males fed DHA. Understanding how DHA supplementation during the perinatal and adolescent periods changes cognitive function in a sex-specific manner has important implications for determining the dietary requirements of DHA. This study adds to previous work highlighting the importance of DHA for spatial memory and provides evidence that further research needs to consider how DHA supplementation can cause sex-specific changes.

Impact of food supplements on early child development in children with moderate acute malnutrition: A randomised 2 x 2 x 3 factorial trial in Burkina Faso

BACKGROUND

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) and corn-soy blends (CSBs) with varying soy and milk content are used in treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). We assessed the impact of these supplements on child development.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We conducted a randomised 2 × 2 × 3 factorial trial to assess the effectiveness of 12 weeks' supplementation with LNS or CSB, with either soy isolate or dehulled soy, and either 0%, 20%, or 50% of protein from milk, on child development among 6-23-month-old children with MAM. Recruitment took place at 5 health centres in Province du Passoré, Burkina Faso between September 2013 and August 2014. The study was fully blinded with respect to soy quality and milk content, while study participants were not blinded with respect to matrix. This analysis presents secondary trial outcomes: Gross motor, fine motor, and language development were assessed using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT). Of 1,609 children enrolled, 54.7% were girls, and median age was 11.3 months (interquartile range [IQR] 8.2-16.0). Twelve weeks follow-up was completed by 1,548 (96.2%), and 24 weeks follow-up was completed by 1,503 (93.4%); follow-up was similar between randomised groups. During the study, 4 children died, and 102 children developed severe acute malnutrition (SAM). There was no difference in adverse events between randomised groups. At 12 weeks, the mean MDAT z-scores in the whole cohort had increased by 0.33 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.37), p < 0.001 for gross motor; 0.26 (0.20, 0.31), p < 0.001 for fine motor; and 0.14 (0.09, 0.20), p < 0.001 for language development. Children had larger improvement in language z-scores if receiving supplements with milk (20%: 0.09 [-0.01, 0.19], p = 0.08 and 50%: 0.11 [0.01, 0.21], p = 0.02), although the difference only reached statistical significance for 50% milk. Post hoc analyses suggested that this effect was specific to boys (interaction p = 0.02). The fine motor z-scores were also improved in children receiving milk, but only when 20% milk was added to CSB (0.18 [0.03, 0.33], p = 0.02). Soy isolate over dehulled soy increased language z-scores by 0.07 (-0.01, 0.15), p = 0.10, although not statistically significant. Post hoc analyses suggested that LNS benefited gross motor development among boys more than did CSB (interaction p = 0.04). Differences between supplement groups did not persist at 24 weeks, but MDAT z-scores continued to increase post-supplementation. The lack of an unsupplemented control group limits us from determining the overall effects of nutritional supplementation for children with MAM.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found that child development improved during and after supplementation for treatment of MAM. Milk protein was beneficial for language and fine motor development, while suggested benefits related to soy quality and supplement matrix merit further investigation. Supplement-specific effects were not found post-intervention, but z-scores continued to improve, suggesting a sustained overall effect of supplementation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN42569496.

Effects of oily fish intake on cognitive and socioemotional function in healthy 8-9-year-old children: the FiSK Junior randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Long-chain n-3 PUFAs (n-3 LCPUFAs) accrete in the brain during childhood and affect brain development. Randomized trials in children show inconsistent effects of n-3 LCPUFAs on cognitive and socioemotional function, and few have investigated effects of fish per se.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the effects of oily fish consumption on overall and domain-specific cognitive and socioemotional scores and explore sex differences.

METHODS

Healthy 8-9-y-old children (n = 199) were randomly allocated to receive ∼300 g/wk oily fish or poultry (control) for 12 ± 2 wk. At baseline and endpoint, we assessed attention, processing speed, executive functions, memory, emotions, and behavior with a large battery of tests and questionnaires and analyzed erythrocyte fatty acid composition.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-seven (99%) children completed the trial. Children in the fish group consumed 375 (25th-75th percentile: 325-426) g/wk oily fish resulting in 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9, 2.6) fatty acid percentage points higher erythrocyte n-3 LCPUFA than in the poultry group. The overall cognitive performance score tended to improve by 0.17 (95% CI: -0.01, 0.35) points in children who received fish compared with poultry, supported by n-3 LCPUFA dose dependency. This was driven mainly by fewer errors [-1.9 (95% CI: -3.4, -0.3)] in an attention task and improved cognitive flexibility measured as faster reaction time [-51 ms (95% CI: -94, -7 ms)] in a complex relative to a simple task ("mixing cost"). The fish intervention furthermore reduced parent-rated Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire total difficulties by -0.89 (95% CI: -1.60, -0.18) points mainly due to a -0.63 (95% CI: -1.11, -0.16) points reduction in internalizing problems that was reflected in tendency to a decrease in the overall socioemotional problems score of -0.13 (95% CI: -0.26, 0.01) points. The overall effects were similar in boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Oily fish dose-dependently improved cognitive function, especially attention and cognitive flexibility, and reduced socioemotional problems. The results support the importance of n-3 LCPUFAs for optimal brain function and fish intake recommendations in children.The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02809508.