According to research appearing in the European Journal of Nutrition (published online, ahead of print Dec. 19, 2007), the amount of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) found in blood in the umbilical cord during pregnancy has a positive association with the child’s motor function later in life.  DHA levels are also associated with a lowered risk of post partum depression.

The study followed over 300 children for a period of seven years following birth. Children were evaluated using the Maastricht Motor Test. Children with higher levels of DHA in the umbilical blood scored higher on the test.

This supports other research appearing in Archives of Disease in Childhood (Fetal and Neonatal Edition) (published online Dec. 21, 2006), which found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the pregnant mother (from fish oil—DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil) created increased hand-eye coordination, improved scores for language comprehension, a tendency to use longer sentences and a better vocabulary when the children were tested at 2 ½ years. Seventy-two children were tested; 33 in the group supplemented with fish oil and 39 in the control group. They were evaluated with the Griffiths Mental Development Scales, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Child Behaviour Checklist.