Trimester-Specific Associations Between Maternal Fatty Acid Ratios and Cognitive and Executive Functioning in 4-Year-Old Children
- 1Nutrition and Mental Health (NUTRISAM) Research Group, Nutrition and Public Health Unit, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Sant Llorenç 21, 43204 Reus, Spain
- 2Institut d’Investigació Sanitaria Pere Virgili (IISPV), 43204 Reus, Spain
Abstract
Purpose: Early prenatal fatty acid balance is vital for brain development, yet trimester-specific effects on long-term neurodevelopment remain unclear. This study examined associations between maternal omega-6/omega-3 (n-6/n-3) ratios in the first and third trimesters and child neurodevelopment at age four. Methods: In the ECLIPSES cohort (n = 223), maternal serum n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were measured at 12 and 36 gestational weeks. At age four, children’s cognitive and executive function were assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)—Preschool Version, respectively. Multivariable regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results: A higher n-6/n-3 ratio in the first trimester was significantly associated with poorer executive functioning, as reflected by higher BRIEF scores indicating greater difficulties in inhibition (b = 2.45, p = 0.002), working memory (b = 1.87, p = 0.030), planning/organization (b = 2.20, p = 0.004), and the Global Executive Composite (b = 1.96, p = 0.006). Higher first-trimester ratios were also associated with lower WPPSI working memory performance (b = −2.14, p = 0.013), while general cognitive abilities were largely unaffected. Conclusions: An elevated maternal n-6/n-3 ratio in early pregnancy is associated with poorer executive function in preschool children, whereas evidence linking these ratios to general cognition remains limited. These findings indicate that associations between fatty acid balance and executive function were mainly observed during the first trimester.
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BibTeX
@article{kou2026trimesterspecific,
title = {{Trimester-Specific Associations Between Maternal Fatty Acid Ratios and Cognitive and Executive Functioning in 4-Year-Old Children}},
author = {Xiruo Kou and Josefa Canals and Victoria Arija},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213514},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3514},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trimester-Specific Associations Between Maternal Fatty Acid Ratios and Cognitive and Executive Functioning in 4-Year-Old Children
AU - Xiruo Kou
AU - Josefa Canals
AU - Victoria Arija
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213514
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3514
AB - Purpose: Early prenatal fatty acid balance is vital for brain development, yet trimester-specific effects on long-term neurodevelopment remain unclear. This study examined associations between maternal omega-6/omega-3 (n-6/n-3) ratios in the first and third trimesters and child neurodevelopment at age four. Methods: In the ECLIPSES cohort (n = 223), maternal serum n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were measured at 12 and 36 gestational weeks. At age four, children’s cognitive and executive function were assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)—Preschool Version, respectively. Multivariable regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Results: A higher n-6/n-3 ratio in the first trimester was significantly associated with poorer executive functioning, as reflected by higher BRIEF scores indicating greater difficulties in inhibition (b = 2.45, p = 0.002), working memory (b = 1.87, p = 0.030), planning/organization (b = 2.20, p = 0.004), and the Global Executive Composite (b = 1.96, p = 0.006). Higher first-trimester ratios were also associated with lower WPPSI working memory performance (b = −2.14, p = 0.013), while general cognitive abilities were largely unaffected. Conclusions: An elevated maternal n-6/n-3 ratio in early pregnancy is associated with poorer executive function in preschool children, whereas evidence linking these ratios to general cognition remains limited. These findings indicate that associations between fatty acid balance and executive function were mainly observed during the first trimester.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -