Fatty fish such as anchovies or tuna are the most important source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a key structural component of cells and, above all, of the cell membrane. brain. Through Nutrimenthe the researchers analyzed the way in which fish contributes to the normal development of the brain and eyes of the fetus and the infant, as well as the genetic variation of intellectual capacity. Project partners focused primarily on the study of polymorphisms in the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene group that encode the enzymes involved in the synthesis of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
In a previous study, fish consumption during pregnancy had been found to be related to verbal IQ at eight years of age, but which component of fish influenced this effect was not identified.
