How Fish Intake During Pregnancy Improves Brain Development of the Child

Previous studies have established that a good balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is essential in the development of the brain in humans. But a new study from the Tohoku University's School of Medicine was the first to come up with the explanation regarding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism that takes place.

Researchers found out that an imbalance of oxides of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids leads to the premature aging of the fetal neural stem cells, according to a Tohoku University public release published in Eurekalert. These fetal neural stem cells are responsible in the production of brain cells and its premature aging can cause abnormality inside the brain, especially among offsprings.

"Dietary lipid contains fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3, which are essential nutrients for many animals and humans," wrote the researchers in the public release. "The research group, led by Professor Noriko Osumi, found that a balanced intake of lipids by pregnant women is necessary for the normal brain formation of the unborn child."

Osumi, a professor from the Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience at the Tohoku University School of Medicine, and 13 of his colleagues conducted an animal study involving female mice entitled, "Maternal dietary imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids impairs neocortical development via epoxy metabolites."

Their findings show that pregnant mice fed a diet that is rich in omega-6 but is deficient in omega-3 produce offsprings with a relatively smaller brain. What is even worse, this abnormal brain development can lead to long-term adverse effects in the mental state of the offsprings.

And, even if these offsprings were fed with a more balanced diet of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids growing up, they would still manifest an anxiety-related behavior as they turn adults, according to the abstract of the study.

The researchers also cited that these findings were significant because this imbalanced diet of excess omega-6 and omega-3 deficiency resembles the modern diet of humans today. This is due to the fact that most people nowadays have poor dietary patterns wherein they are likely to have more omega-6 fatty acids intake from consuming more seed oils and less of the equally important omega-3 fatty acids from fish.

"The results reveal why omega-6 and omega-3 balance is important for future brain function and reinforces earlier suggestions that more fish intake by women during pregnancy can advantageously affect the child's health," the researchers added in the public release.