Maternal DHA Supplementation and Childhood Blood Pressure

Abstract

Background: Blood pressure (BP) in childhood is positively associated with BP in adulthood; it is important to understand influential factors of childhood BP. Child race, body mass index (BMI), and diet are well studied, but intrauterine exposures that may influence BP long term are not well explored. Objective: To determine if DHA supplementation during pregnancy leads to lower blood pressure in offspring at 4-5.5 years of age. Methods: We measured BP longitudinally at 6-mo intervals from 4 to 5.5 years of age in a cohort of 179 children whose mothers were randomized to either supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (600 mg/d) or placebo during pregnancy. Results: Black race, child BMI and child salt intake were positively associated with systolic and diastolic BP. Maternal DHA status at delivery was associated with significantly lower BP at 4 and 5 years of age. Black children whose mothers were assigned to placebo had higher BP across all ages compared to white children and black children whose mothers were supplemented with DHA. Similarly, maternal DHA supplementation protected against higher BP observed in children who were overweight or obese compared to healthy weight children at 4 and 5 years of age; and protected BP of those whose average sodium intake across all ages exceeded 1.9 g/day. Conclusion: Improving fetal DHA status through maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy appears to protect against several risk factors for higher BP in childhood.