Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and infant brain development: role of gut microbiome.

• Maternal and postnatal docosahexaenoic acid intake may play a role in brain function of infants. • Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation induces microbial shifts in the gut of infants. • Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid on cognition may be through modulation of gut–brain axis. Perinatal stage represents a critical period for brain development. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid preferentially accumulated in the brain that may benefit neurodevelopment. Microbial colonization and maturation parallel with the rapid development of infant metabolic and brain function that may influence the effects of DHA on neurological development. This review aims to summarize the current literature on the mediating effects of DHA on brain and gut microbiome development and attempts to reevaluate the efficacy of DHA from a gut microbiome–mediated perspective. Specifically, the regulatory roles of DHA on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammation, and neuroactive mediators may be partly moderated through gut microbiome. Consideration of the gut microbiome and gut–brain communication, when evaluating the efficacy of DHA, may provide new insights in better understanding the mechanisms of DHA and impart advantages to future development of nutritional therapy based on the nutrient-microbiome interaction. Potential mechanisms of DHA in shaping the gut microbiome to impact brain development and function. Abbreviations: DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal. Figure created with BioRender.com. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]