Pregnancy: DHA improves children's health

Colds in children can be counteracted bytaking Omega 3 in gestation. This was shown in a study published in the journal Pediatrics. Mothers-to-be should take 400 milligrams of DHA daily starting from the 18th week of gestation in order to ensure the healthy state of their babies in the first months of life. The study, conducted by researchers from the Nutrition and Health Sciences Program at Emory University (Atlanta, United States), shows that supplementing the diet with DHA during pregnancy reduces the frequency of colds in babies by 1 month. And at 1, 3 and 6 months of age in infants whose mothers resorted to taking Omega-3 DHA in gestation the duration of illness symptoms is shorter.

Omega-3, valuable allies against inflammation

Long-chain fatty acids, a class of molecules to which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) belongs, influence immune system activity and inflammatory processes. However, the effect that the intake of DHA by expectant mothers might have on the health of children had not yet been clarified. For this reason, Beth Imhoff-Kunsch and the other authors of the study decided to analyze whetherdietary supplementation with DHA during gestation influenced disease development in children.

Omega-3 in gestation for children's health: the study

The analysis was conducted in Mexico. A group of pregnant women were prescribed to take 400 milligrams of DHA starting from the 18th or, in some cases, 22nd week of gestation. From this time, mothers-to-be continued to take Omega-3 until delivery. At the same time, a second group of expectant mothers took a placebo. After birth, the health status of the babies was monitored at 1, 3 and 6 months of age. Data were collected on the symptoms of the infants' most common illnesses in the 15 days prior to the visit. It was found that in 1-month-old infants, the occurrence of more cold symptoms was lower if the mothers had taken DHA during gestation. At 1 month of age, the duration of coughing, phlegm production, and wheezing decreased by 26, 15, and 30 percent, respectively. Only in the case of skin rashes was the frequency 22% higher. By contrast, at 3 months of age, children whose mothers had taken the omega-3 fatty acid spent 14% less time sick. Finally, at 6 months of age, in infants who had taken DHA during prenatal development, the duration of fever, nasal discharge, respiratory distress, rash, and other illnesses was 20, 13, 54, 23, and 25 percent less, respectively. Only vomiting cases lasted 74% longer.

Omega-3 from mom to baby

According to the authors, these results indicate thatOmega-3 dietary supplementation during pregnancy (particularly DHA) influences the health of infants up to 6 months of age.    

Source 

1. Imhoff-Kunsch B, Stein AD, Martorell R, Parra-Cabrera S, Romieu I, Ramakrishnan U, "Prenatal Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation and Infant Morbidity: Randomized Controlled Trial," Pediatrics. 2011 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print].