OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the status of sialic acid (SA) during perinatal period and early intelligence development of healthy full term infant, and to explore the effect of SA on the early intelligence development.

METHODA total of 127 pairs of healthy mothers-neonates in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were recruited randomly in this prospective cohort study. The levels of SA from body fluids of mothers-neonates were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, such as the full-term maternal and cord blood and the colostrum. The questionnaire surveys were carried out in mothers and mental development evaluation according to Children's Development Center of China (CDCC) were carried out in infants 3 to 4 months of age to obtain the mental development index (MDI) and psycho-motor development index (PDI).

RESULTA total of 120 pairs of maternal-neonatal subjects with complete data were included into statistical analysis. The levels of SA of maternal and cord blood and colostrum were (2.25 ± 0.02), (1.21 ± 0.01), and (5.01 ± 0.06) mmol/L respectively. MDI and PDI of infants 3 to 4 months of age were (99.40 ± 1.87) and (98.53 ± 1.96). The analysis using multiple linear regression indicated that MDI was associated with SA levels of cord blood and colostrum (β = 0.636, 0.175, P < 0.05), and PDI was also associated with them (β = 0.502, 0.262, P < 0.05). The levels of SA of cord blood and colostrums were individually divided into high-level group and low-level one according to the median level. MDI and PDI in high-level group of cord blood were both significantly higher than that in low-level group (111.85 ± 2.79) vs. (108.88 ± 2.0) , (101.08 ± 4.44) vs. (98.88 ± 2.0) P < 0.01. So were MDI and PDI in high-level group of colostrum compared with those in low-level group (111.71 ± 3.07) vs. (108.81 ± 1.56), P < 0.01; (101.29 ± 4.23) vs.(98.56 ± 1.79), P < 0.05. The analysis on correlation between the levels of maternal-neonatal body fluids showed that the level of SA of colostrum was positively correlated with that of cord blood (r = 0.507, P = 0.004). However, no correlation was found either between the level of SA of maternal and cord blood or between the level of SA of maternal blood and colostrums. Further division into high-level and low-level groups was done according to the median level of maternal blood. The levels of SA of colostrum and cord blood in high-level group were markedly higher than those in low-level one (5.12 ± 0.35) vs. (4.87 ± 0.22) and (1.21 ± 0.02) vs. (1.17 ± 0.01), P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONHigh levels of SA of cord blood and colostrums might be beneficial to the early intelligence development of full term infant. Abundant intake of SA during perinatal period and good function of placenta may play important role in early intelligence development.