Parents in a different US city consumed only half of the recommended levels of omega-3s, and mothers with a history of preterm birth had the lowest intake, linking diet, income and opportunity to child health potential.
Research: Parental intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in a diverse, urban United States city is associated with indicators of child health potential. Image credit: Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock
In a recent study published in the journal Nutrientsresearchers looked at parental intake of docosahexaenoate (DHA) and icosapentaenoate (EPA) acids. Recent dietary guidelines recommend seafood intake, a good source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
Evidence supports that intake of specific omega-3 PUFAssuch as DHA and EPAreduces preterm birth (PTB) and PTB. Additionally, recent studies link seafood consumption in pregnancy and childhood to positive neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
Seafood has the highest levels DHA and EPAwhile other foods, such as chicken and eggs, contain much lower levels. American children are known to have low intake DHA and EPAand adults also have a lower than recommended average daily intake.
Parents’ eating habits influence children’s eating habits, with healthy food intake being more strongly correlated between children and parents than unhealthy food intake.
About the study
In the present study, the researchers assessed parental intake DHA and EPA and explored relevant socio-demographic conditions.
Parents from all neighborhoods in Chicago completed a food frequency questionnaire between May and July 2022. Parents aged ≥ 18 years, with at least one child aged 0–17 years in the household, were included, only one parent per household was recruited.
The questionnaire asked about the foods that contribute the most to DHA and EPA import. Three questions asked about seafood intake, grouped by similarity DHA flat.
Participants indicated whether they had consumed seafood in this group and indicated their frequency of consumption. Consumption responses were converted to estimated daily intakes. Participants also specified whether they took supplements containing DHA.
Participants self-reported demographic information, including age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, and family income. In addition, female participants were asked if they had been previously PTB.
Participants’ home addresses were linked to their neighborhood child opportunity index (COI), a composite score that reflects children’s multidimensional opportunities for healthy growth and development and is derived from 44 indicators in the areas of health, education and environment.
The study outcomes were individual and combined parental daily intake DHA and EPA. Comparisons of recruitment between fathers and mothers were performed using t tests. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine parental characteristics associated with recruitment DHA and EPA.
Separate models were developed for fathers and mothers as PTB tested only in women.
Findings
Responses were received from 1,057 participants. Most subjects were aged > 35 years (65.6%) and female (59.5%) and 24.1% of female parents had PTB. About a quarter of participants reported using DHA– containing supplements. THE COI was low or very low for most households (73.3%).
Mothers had significantly lower individual and combined intake DHA and EPA by fathers (135.7 mg/day vs. 162.8 mg/day, mean difference 27.1 mg/day, p = 0.02).
Among female parents, no use DHA-containing supplements (−48.3 mg/day) and before PTB (−24.4 mg/day) were negatively associated with the combined DHA and EPA import.
Black, non-Latino/Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a higher combination DHA and EPA intake (+41.7 mg/day) by White, non-Latino/Hispanic ethnicity. Households with income > 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were positively associated with combined intake compared to those < 100% of FPL.
For males, do not use DHA-containing supplements (−73.0 mg/day) and Latinx or Hispanic and Other or Multiracial (non-Latino or Hispanic) categories were associated with lower combined intake, blacks, non-Latinos, or Hispanics did not differ significantly from whites, non-Latinos, or Hispanics.
In contrast, family income was not associated with fathers DHA plus EPA import. Households with high or very high COI had significantly higher intake than low and very low COI in separate paired trials (about 50 mg/day difference).
conclusions
The study reported a cross-sectional measurement of the parent DHA and EPA taken in conjunction with children’s health measures, such as e.g COI and PTB. Parent intake DHA and EPA was significantly lower than the 250 mg/day expected from eating the amount of seafood recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Down mother DHA and EPA Intake was also associated with a history of preterm delivery.
Improvement of parents DHA and EPA intake may be reduced PTB risk based on previous randomized trial evidence, although the present study is cross-sectional and cannot establish causality. In addition, socio-economic disadvantage, e.g. lower COI or household income, was associated with lower DHA plus EPA recruitment by parents.
The authors noted that the magnitudes of these differences were significant rather than insignificant. The average parental intake was well below the 250 mg per day expected by the guidance, the study reports mean values ​​and differences between groups rather than the exact proportion below 250 mg per day.
The authors also acknowledged contextual limitations, including data collection during avian influenza and COVID-19 seasons, use of a single-parent sample, and underrepresentation ofCOI households, which may limit generalizability.
Increasing intake can benefit public health in measurable ways, such as reductions PTB and the authors suggested possible interventions, such as educating families about affordable seafood options and encouraging pediatricians to counsel parents about their diet.
