Maternal DHA and the Development of Attention in Infancy and Toddlerhood

  1. John Colombo1,
  2. Kathleen N. Kannass2,
  3. D. Jill Shaddy3,
  4. Shashi Kundurthi4,
  5. Julie M. Maikranz5,
  6. Christa J. Anderson6,
  7. Otilia M. Blaga7,
  8. Susan E. Carlson8

Article first published online: 19 JUL 2004

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00737.x

Issue

Child Development

Child Development

Volume 75, Issue 4, pages 1254–1267, July 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Colombo, J., Kannass, K. N., Jill Shaddy, D., Kundurthi, S., Maikranz, J. M., Anderson, C. J., Blaga, O. M. and Carlson, S. E. (2004), Maternal DHA and the Development of Attention in Infancy and Toddlerhood. Child Development, 75: 1254–1267. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00737.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology and The Schiefelbusch Institute for Lifespan Studies, University of Kansas

  2. 2

    The Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology and The Schiefelbusch Institute for Lifespan Studies, University of Kansas

  4. 4

    Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center

  5. 5

    Clinical Child Psychology Doctoral Program, University of Kansas

  6. 6

    Department of Psychology and The Schiefelbusch Institute for Lifespan Studies, University of Kansas

  7. 7

    Department of Psychology and The Schiefelbusch Institute for Lifespan Studies, University of Kansas

  8. 8

    Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Colombo, Kannass

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 JUL 2004
  2. Article first published online: 19 JUL 2004

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Infants were followed longitudinally to document the relationship between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and the development of attention. Erythrocyte (red-blood cell; RBC) phospholipid DHA (percentage of total fatty acids) was measured from infants and mothers at delivery. Infants were assessed in infant-control habituation at 4, 6, and 8 months augmented with psychophysiological measures, and on free-play attention and distractibility paradigms at 12 and 18 months. Infants whose mothers had high DHA at birth showed an accelerated decline in looking over the 1st year and increases in examining during single-object exploration and less distractibility in the 2nd year. These findings are consistent with evidence suggesting a link between DHA and cognitive development in infancy.

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