Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Prenatal Fatty Acid Supplementation
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Women's Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Reproductive |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 34 |
| Updated: | 5/4/2018 |
| Start Date: | January 2016 |
| End Date: | April 2020 |
| Contact: | Kimberley Mbayiwa, MA |
| Email: | kmbayiwa@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu |
| Phone: | 773-834-5341 |
Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Prenatal Fatty Acid Supplementation: A Randomized Controlled Study in African American Women Living in Low-income Urban Environments
The purpose of the study is to test whether nutritional supplementation during pregnancy is
associated with 1) improved maternal health during pregnancy; 2) improved infant birth and
neurodevelopmental outcomes, and 3) whether the association between nutritional
supplementation during pregnancy and infant outcomes is partially mediated by reductions in
maternal perceived stress and stress reactivity during pregnancy.
associated with 1) improved maternal health during pregnancy; 2) improved infant birth and
neurodevelopmental outcomes, and 3) whether the association between nutritional
supplementation during pregnancy and infant outcomes is partially mediated by reductions in
maternal perceived stress and stress reactivity during pregnancy.
Low-income pregnant women often experience chronic stress and consequently higher levels of
stress hormones. In utero exposure to high levels of stress hormones can negatively affect
the developing fetus and the infant's capacity for emotion and behavioral regulation. This
program of research is designed to reduce the negative impact of prenatal stress on infant
health and development via nutritional supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during
pregnancy. DHA is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid member of the omega-3 fatty acid
family. DHA is found in its highest concentrations in neural cell membranes, affecting
receptor function, neurotransmitter uptake, and signal transmission. There is growing
evidence that low levels of dietary DHA intake are associated with suboptimal response to
stress and that DHA supplementation can modulate stress response.
One hundred sixty-two pregnant women will be randomly assigned to receive 450 mg/daily of DHA
or placebo beginning at 9-12 weeks of gestation through the end of pregnancy. Perceived
stress, stressful life events, anxiety, and depression, inflammatory markers, DHA levels and
response to a laboratory stressor will be assessed at baseline and at 24, 30, and 36 weeks of
pregnancy. Neonatal outcomes (e.g., gestational age, birth weight, delivery complications)
will be collected from medical records, and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes and stress
reactivity will be assessed at 1, 4 and 9 months of age. Coded data will be analyzed by the
Investigators at University of Chicago and University of Pittsburgh
stress hormones. In utero exposure to high levels of stress hormones can negatively affect
the developing fetus and the infant's capacity for emotion and behavioral regulation. This
program of research is designed to reduce the negative impact of prenatal stress on infant
health and development via nutritional supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during
pregnancy. DHA is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid member of the omega-3 fatty acid
family. DHA is found in its highest concentrations in neural cell membranes, affecting
receptor function, neurotransmitter uptake, and signal transmission. There is growing
evidence that low levels of dietary DHA intake are associated with suboptimal response to
stress and that DHA supplementation can modulate stress response.
One hundred sixty-two pregnant women will be randomly assigned to receive 450 mg/daily of DHA
or placebo beginning at 9-12 weeks of gestation through the end of pregnancy. Perceived
stress, stressful life events, anxiety, and depression, inflammatory markers, DHA levels and
response to a laboratory stressor will be assessed at baseline and at 24, 30, and 36 weeks of
pregnancy. Neonatal outcomes (e.g., gestational age, birth weight, delivery complications)
will be collected from medical records, and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes and stress
reactivity will be assessed at 1, 4 and 9 months of age. Coded data will be analyzed by the
Investigators at University of Chicago and University of Pittsburgh
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age between 18 and 34
- Household recipient of public assistance (e.g. Medicaid insurance) due to low income
- Low levels of DHA consumption as defined as less than two fish servings per week
Exclusion Criteria:
- Reports of known medial complications
- Regular use of steroid medications, alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal substances (by
maternal report)
- Use of blood thinners or anti-coagulants
- Use of psychotropic medications
- Allergy to iodine and/or soy
We found this trial at
1
site
Click here to add this to my saved trials
