Taking Omega-3 During Pregnancy Increases Fetal Brain Weight by 37%
Omega 3 supplements: consistent intake during pregnancy increases the baby's brain weight
The intake of flaxseeds during pregnancy influences the incorporation of Omega 3 fatty acids into the fetal brain and contributes to better brain development. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the Universidade Federal Fluminense in Niterói (Brazil) through a study conducted on rats. The results were published in Nutrición Hospitalaria, the official journal of the Sociedad Española de Nutrición Enteral y Parenteral.
Maternal nutrition and fetal development
Nutrition received in the womb can influence the risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. Omega-3 fatty acids, present both in the brain and retina, are important for the development of the nervous system. By contributing to the formation of membranes surrounding neurons, these fats support the growth and development of vision, psychomotor skills, and some nervous functions linked to behavior. Among Omega-3s, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an abundant component of the membranes enveloping neurons. Its incorporation into these sheaths occurs during the formation of the nervous system in the fetus, which it reaches through the placenta.
Flaxseeds as a source of DHA during pregnancy
Brazilian researchers tested the effect of flaxseed intake, the main plant source of Omega-3, during pregnancy on brain development. They measured the brain weight and Omega-3 incorporation in the brains of rats born to mothers fed with or without flaxseeds. The 18 mothers involved were divided into 3 groups:
- the first received a diet containing flaxseeds and casein;
- the second received casein only;
- the third was fed casein, fiber, and soybean oil.
The researchers assessed the body and brain weights of the rats immediately after birth. No significant difference was found in body weight among the newborns. However, the brain mass of rats born to mothers fed flaxseeds was 39% and 25% higher than that of offspring from mothers fed only casein or casein with fiber and soybean oil, respectively. Likewise, the relative brain weight of rats exposed to flaxseeds in utero was 37% higher compared to those fed only casein, and 31% higher than those fed casein, fiber, and soybean oil. No difference was found between the other groups. Analysis of Omega-3 levels in the newborn brains showed that flaxseed intake increased their total Omega-3 levels by 62% compared to the casein diet and by 52% compared to the casein, fiber, and soybean oil diet. The increase in DHA alone was 38% compared to casein and 32% compared to casein, fiber, and soybean oil.
Significant results
Based on the data, the researchers concluded that the increase in brain weight is associated with maternal flaxseed intake during pregnancy. By influencing the composition of nervous tissue, the Omega-3 contained in these seeds ensures proper brain development.
Source
1. Lenzi Almeida KC, Teles Boaventura G, Guzmán Silva MA, “Influence of omega-3 fatty acids from the flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) on the brain development of newborn rats”, Nutr Hosp. 2011 Oct;26(5):991-6
