{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity moderates the association between prenatal maternal depressive symptoms and infant cord blood omega-3 levels.
{Author}: Costello LA;Ziegler K;McCormack L;Akbaryan A;Vargas JC;Harris WS;Jackson KH;Barber M;Morales S;Elliott AJ;Hockett C;Shuffrey LC;
{Journal}: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
{Volume}: 24
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2024 Aug 14
{Factor}: 3.105
{DOI}: 10.1186/s12884-024-06732-4
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Empirical evidence has demonstrated associations between pre-pregnancy obesity and perinatal maternal depressive symptoms. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid derived from dietary sources that is critical for fetal brain development. Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with higher omega-3 intake, but a weaker association between dietary intake and respective maternal and cord blood omega-3 levels. Further, lower intake of omega-3 during pregnancy has been linked to higher depressive symptoms. Yet, prior studies have not examined the interactive effects of pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity (OWOB) and prenatal maternal mental health symptoms on infant cord blood omega-3 levels.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Participants included 394 maternal-infant dyads from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) - Safe Passage Study in South Dakota. A pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) > 25 was used to dichotomize participants as OWOB (54%) vs. non-OWOB (46%). Prenatal maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and prenatal maternal anxiety symptoms were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We implemented linear regression models to examine the interaction term between pre-pregnancy BMI category and prenatal maternal mental health symptoms on cord blood omega-3 levels. Secondary analyses were stratified by pre-pregnancy BMI category.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>We observed a significant interaction between pre-pregnancy BMI category and prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with cord blood omega-3 (F(4,379) = 6.21, p < .0001, adj. R2 = 0.05). Stratified models revealed an association between prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with lower cord blood omega-3 levels only among individuals with pre-pregnancy OWOB (β = -0.06, 95% CI = -0.11, -0.02; F (2,208) = 4.00, p < .05, adj R2 = 0.03). No associations were observed among non-OWOB participants.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Findings suggest maternal-placental transfer of omega-3 may represent one pathway by which maternal metabolic and mental health impacts infant development.