Fetal Developmental Deviations Reflected in a Functional Autonomic Brain Age Score

Abstract

The functional maturation of the fetal autonomic control can be evaluated by means of the fetal Autonomic Brain Age Score (fABAS) that constitutes a non-invasively recordable index of the neural integration of the developing organism. We wanted to know how maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation that was previously shown to increase traditional fetal and neonatal heart rate variability (HRV) as well as autonomic clusters of Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale also influences fABAS. Women were randomized to groups of daily intake of either 600 mg of DHA or placebo during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. fABAS and the included HRV indices were calculated from fetal RR interval series obtained from magnetocardiographic recordings. fABAS was increased in the DHA group at 32 and 36 weeks of gestation (WGA), but by tendency at 24 WGA. Separately considering the factors of fABAS, pNN5 was increased in the DHA group from 32 WGA onwards but ActAmp at 36 WGA only. The combined interpretation of fABAS and its coefficients may provide advanced understanding of the complex neural interactions during fetal development with implementations on age depending nutritional programming effects.