Future Perspective
More work is needed to determine whether EPA or DHA or a combination of both may be beneficial for mothers at risk for perinatal depression. Likewise, the role for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for neonates at greatest risk for suboptimum development, such as those born preterm or after perinatal hypoxia–ischemia requires further study. DHA, or its derivative NPD1, may ultimately be shown to have a neuroprotective role in perinatal hypoxia–ischemia, but this potential use is speculative at the current time, as it has been only tested in animal models. It is unclear whether the more beneficial therapeutic approaches will be established for maternal and infant dietary supplementation with omega-3 long-chain PUFAs among mother–infant dyads at the highest risk for suboptimal cognitive development, or whether stable synthetic analogs of resolvins and protectins, the bioactive metabolites of omega-3 fatty acids, will find therapeutic uses.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
EL Mozurkewich has received support for a randomized controlled trial comparing eicosapentaenoic acid-rich fish oil, docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil and placebo for the prevention of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. The Nordic Naturals company (Watsonville, CA, USA) donated fish oil capsules and placebo capsules to the study. EL Mozurkewich has also received support from the National Institutes of Health. K Salari has received funding from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to study the effect of docosahexaenoic acid on gene expression in a rat model of perinatal hypoxia–ischemia. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Clin Lipidology. 2012;7(1):93-109. © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd.
Cite this: Assessing Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation During Pregnancy and Lactation to Optimize Maternal Mental Health and Childhood Cognitive Development - Medscape - Feb 01, 2012.
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