Omega-3 in pregnancy: less risk of perinatal death

New benefits of Omega-3 intake during gestation: 800 milligrams per day of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in the second half of pregnancy can reduce both the risk of perinatal death and the occurrence of neonatal seizures. Clues to this benefit of Omega-3s were gathered by a group of Australian researchers coordinated by the Women's & Children's Health Research Centre and the University of Adelaide (Australia). The results of their research were published in the pages of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Taking Omega-3 in pregnancy: why is it so good for you?

Omega-3s are essential for proper development of the fetus' nervous system. Every woman should ensure an adequate supply of them even before pregnancy, as these fatty acids along with other nutrients are transferred from the maternal body to the baby. In addition, the Omega-3 content of amniotic fluid depends on the diet of the mother-to-be. Several studies have shown that taking Omega-3 during pregnancy does not harm the baby in any way. On the contrary, research to date indicates that high levels of Omega-3 can reduce the risk of the onset of various diseases and complications:

• premature birth
• preeclampsia
• cerebral palsies

Specifically, Omega-3 intake enables:

• Reduce blood pressure, a major determinant of preeclampsia;
• Promote proper blood flow in the placenta and thus enable the efficient exchange of nutrients between mother and baby.

For this reason, experts recommend taking 300 milligrams per day of Omega-3 during the last 3 months of gestation.

Omega-3s for a successful term gestation

The study involved 2,399 women under 21 weeks' gestation who took 800 milligrams per day of DHA or a vegetable oil low in Omega-3.

• There were 3 cases of perinatal death (0.125%) and no cases of neonatal convulsions in the group taking DHA.
• There were 12 perinatal deaths (0.5%) and 5 cases of neonatal convulsions (0.21%) in the group that did not take Omega-3.

This Omega-3 could therefore reduce both the risk of perinatal death and the risk of seizures in the baby. However, these doses of DHA would not seem to be suitable for decreasing the incidence of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Previous studies have shown that in the case of preeclampsia, it is the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 levels that makes the ^difference2.

Which Omega-3s?

For the authors, the validity of these clues will need to be confirmed by other studies. It should be remembered that you should always seek advice from your doctor before taking Omega-3 or other dietary supplements during gestation. For example,flaxseed oil is a good source of Omega-3, but some experts advise against taking it during pregnancy because it contains substances that could affect ^hormonal activity3.  

Source: 

1. Zhou SJ, Yelland L, McPhee AJ, Quinlivan J, Gibson RA, Makrides M, "Fish-oil supplementation in pregnancy does not reduce the risk of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia," Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun;95(6):1378-84. Epub 2012 May 2 

2. Williams MA, Zingheim RW, King IB, Zebelman AM, "Omega-3 fatty acids in maternal erythrocytes and risk of preeclampsia," Epidemiology. 1995 May;6(3):232-7 

3. Brooks JD, Ward WE, Lewis JE, Hilditch J, Nickell L, Wong E, Thompson LU, "Supplementation with flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women to a greater extent than does supplementation with an equal amount of soy," Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Feb;79(2):318-25