HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 89/2/678S    most recent ajcn.2008.26811Ev1 Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Carlson, S. E Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Carlson, S. E Agricola Articles by Carlson, S. E

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in pregnancy and lactation

¹ From the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.

² Presented at the symposium "Methyl Donors, Iodine, and DHA—Is Maternal Supplementation Beneficial?" held at Experimental Biology 2008, San Diego, CA, 6 April 2008.

³ Supported by NIH R01 HD047315.

⁴ Reprints not available. Address correspondence to SE Carlson, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, MS 4013, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160. E-mail: scarlson{at}kumc.edu.

The goal of the Experimental Biology symposium on maternal supplementation was to review all available lines of evidence, delineate unanswered questions, and develop, if it seemed reasonable, a research agenda to determine whether maternal supplementation with specific nutrients might be beneficial. In the case of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status, the topic addressed in this article, few clinical studies show benefits of maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy or lactation for the infant or child. However, quite a large number of observational studies link higher intrauterine DHA exposure to a number of positive developmental outcomes. This article reviews the factors known to contribute to DHA status of women and their offspring during the reproductive cycle, relates maternal DHA status to that of the developing fetus and newborn, and reviews the evidence for functional differences in behavior related to DHA status, including the available evidence related to DHA supplementation of women pregnant and lactating and their offspring. Other outcomes for infants and children and for women themselves appear plausible and are also addressed as part of a research agenda for future work.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. L. Palmquist Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Metabolism, Health, and Nutrition and for Modified Animal Product Foods Professional Animal Scientist, June 1, 2009; 25(3): 207 - 249. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. E Carlson Early determinants of development: a lipid perspective Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2009; 89(5): 1523S - 1529S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. Picciano and M. K McGuire Use of dietary supplements by pregnant and lactating women in North America Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2009; 89(2): 663S - 667S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B Zimmermann Iodine deficiency in pregnancy and the effects of maternal iodine supplementation on the offspring: a review Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2009; 89(2): 668S - 672S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. R Greer Introduction Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2009; 89(2): 661S - 662S. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H Zeisel Importance of methyl donors during reproduction Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2009; 89(2): 673S - 677S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H Zeisel Is maternal diet supplementation beneficial? Optimal development of infant depends on mother's diet Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2009; 89(2): 685S - 687S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]