RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Maternal 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) serum levels during pregnancy have been negatively linked to child neurodevelopment in contrast to intake of omega-3 and -6 (ω-3 and ω-6) fatty acids. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether maternal dietary intake of ω-3 and ω-6 during pregnancy modifies the association between exposure to DDE and child neurodevelopment from age 42-60 months. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with 142 mother-child pairs performed in Mexico. DDE serum levels were determined by electron capture gas chromatography. Dietary ω-3 and ω-6 intake was estimated by questionnaire. Child neurodevelopment was assessed by McCarthy Scales. RESULTS: Docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acid intake significantly modified the association between DDE and motor component: increased maternal DDE was associated with lower motor development in children whose mothers had lower DHA intake (ßlog2DDEâ¯=â¯-1.25; 95% CI: -2.62, 0.12), in contrast to the non-significant increase among children whose mothers had higher DHA intake (ßlog2DDE-motorâ¯=â¯0.50; 95% CI: 0.55, 1.56). Likewise, arachidonic fatty acid (ARA) intake modified the association between DDE and memory component: increased maternal DDE was associated with a significantly larger reduction in the memory component in children whose mothers had lower ARA intake (ßlog2DDEâ¯=â¯-1.31; 95% CI: -2.29, -0.32) than children whose mothers had higher ARA intake (ßlog2DDE-memoryâ¯=â¯0.17; 95% CI: -0.78, 1.11). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake of DHA and ARA during pregnancy may protect against child neurodevelopment damage associated with prenatal maternal DDE levels.