# Maternal bioactive lipids during pregnancy and early childhood neurodevelopment and behavior

## TL;DR

This study shows that maternal bioactive lipid levels during pregnancy are linked to early childhood neurodevelopment and behavior, with effects varying by child sex and preterm birth status.

## Contribution

The study identifies sex- and preterm birth-specific associations between maternal bioactive lipids and child neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes.

## Key findings

- Altered maternal bioactive lipid concentrations were associated with poorer child neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Emotional and behavioral problems in children were linked to maternal lipid levels.
- Associations were modified by child sex and preterm birth status.

## Abstract

Maternal immune activation, including inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy, has been linked to child neurodevelopmental problems (NDP) and emotional and behavioral problems (EBP). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their oxidized metabolites (oxylipins) are important bioactive lipids that modulate immune responses, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, their roles in child NDP and EBP remain unclear.

This study included 259 mother-child pairs from the PROTECT birth cohort in Puerto Rico. Maternal plasma samples collected around 26 weeks’ gestation were analyzed for bioactive lipid levels using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Child NDP and EBP were assessed at ages 1–3 using the Battelle Developmental Index, 2nd edition (BDI-2) and the Child Behavioral Checklist for ages 1.5–5 (CBCL/1.5–5). We evaluated associations between maternal bioactive lipid levels and child NDP or EBP outcomes and conducted sex-stratified analyses to examine effect modification by child sex. As a sensitivity analysis, we restricted analyses to term births to evaluate the associations independent of potential effects of preterm birth.

Altered maternal bioactive lipid concentrations were associated with poorer neurodevelopmental and emotional/behavioral outcomes in children aged 1–3 years. The associations were modified by child sex and preterm birth status.

These findings underscore the need for further research into bioactive-lipid-related maternal mechanisms that may influence early childhood neurodevelopment and behavior.