Pregnancy omega-3 may boost coordination of offspring
Pregnant women who increase their intake of omega-3 could improve their children's motor function in late life.
A study conducted at the Netherlands Open University of more than 300 children over seven years showed a positive effect on docosahexaenoic acid levels in the umbilical blood and children's nervous system.
Previous studies had shown that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acid is associated with healthy pregnancies as well as the mental and visual development of children.
Esther Bakker from the university said: "Our results suggest that prenatal DHA availability, which can be influenced by maternal dietary DHA intake during pregnancy, can have an effect on quality of movement in later life."
The study authors also discovered a link between high levels of omega-3 fatty acid in cord blood and good hand-eye coordination.
