Preterm birth, omega-3 supplementation reduces the risk of preterm birth and is associated with higher infant weight.
Consumption of omega-3-rich fish oil during the third trimester of pregnancy may prolong gestation by reducing the risk of preterm delivery, and promote newborn weight gain. Daily supplementation with 2.4 grams of EPA and DHA, in fact, appears to prolong the duration of pregnancy by two days, and is associated with a higher birth weight of 97 grams. These data confirm and enrich knowledge about the role of omega-3 supplements during gestation, and their importance to the health of the woman and the newborn.
This is reported in a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, and carried out by researchers at the University of Copenhagen and the University of Gothenburg (Norway). Preterm births: a public health problem in Europe and Italy A preterm birth, or preterm birth, is one that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation. Every year in Europe, about 500,000 babies, one in ten, are born prematurely.
In Italy, preterm birth is estimated to affect about 8 percent of infants, while birth before 32 weeks affects nearly 1 percent of newborns. The preterm baby, in addition to small size and low weight, is more likely than others to have brain development defects and learning disabilities in later years. In fact, babies born prematurely will be at greater risk of developing problems with growth, respiratory system, neurological system, behavior, and school abilities. In addition, hospital admissions are more frequent for these babies and the likelihood of crib death (SIDS) is higher.
In addition to some maternal pathological conditions, such as, for example, diabetes, some physiological or lifestyle factors before pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm delivery. Among these, the most important are:
- advanced maternal age
- underweight or obesity
- unhealthy eating habits
- smoking
- alcohol
- drug use
- environmental pollution
- stress and depression.
- Too short an interval between two pregnancies
- a previous preterm delivery
Regarding the importance of nutrients in pregnancy and supplements, data from the KUDOS study conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas indicated that supplementation with omega-3 DHA, in the dose of 600 milligrams per day, during the last two trimesters of pregnancy can significantly reduce the number of premature births.
Similarly, Australian research published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and EssentialFattyAcids in recent months has shown that supplementation with DHA is associated with a 15 percent reduction in cases of preterm pregnancies. In addition, numerous studies have shown that nutritional interventions that increase DHA, the omega-3 present in high concentrations in brain and retinal cells, are very important in improving health status in preterm infants.
Omega-3 supplementation reduces the risk of preterm delivery
In the new clinical study, researchers evaluated the effects of supplementation with 2.4 grams per day of fish oil during the third trimester of pregnancy on weight and duration of gestation. The results confirmed data from previous studies showing that fish oil supplementation leads to a prolongation of pregnancy and an increase in the baby's birth weight, and a significantly larger infant size. This suggests that the increase in birth weight is not only explained by the prolonged duration of pregnancy, but is also a consequence of increased intrauterine growth. The study adds to a growing body of scientific publications supporting the benefits of omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy, as well as on infant health and development.
Commenting independently on the terms of the study, Harry Rice, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for the Organization for EPA and DHA (GOED), said the findings confirm the role of EPA and DHA supplements during pregnancy and how public health policies need to consider these consistently positive data.
Some details of the research
To carry out the study, researchers recruited 736 women between the 22nd and 26th weeks of pregnancy, between 2009 and 2010. The women were divided into two groups, which were randomly assigned two different treatments. Some of them received daily supplements containing four grams of fish oil, which provided 2.4 grams of omega-3 (55 percent EPA and 37 percent DHA), while the control group simply received olive oil.
The results showed an increase in pregnancy duration by as much as two days and average birth weight by 97 grams, relative to gestational age, that is, the period since the woman's last menstrual cycle began.
Future studies will explore the role of integration in the periconventional period
According to the researchers who conducted the study, fish oil supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy led to prolonged gestation and increased birth weight of the baby. This weight gain was due to a longer duration of pregnancy and probably increased intrauterine growth. Future studies should focus on the dose-response relationships and composition of omega-3 supplements used in supplementation, and their overall role in improving fetal and infant health.
Omega-3 in pregnancy. Which supplement to choose?
VitaDHA® produced by U.G.A Nutraceuticals is formulated to promote the health of mother and baby from the preconceptional period through breastfeeding. In fact, it contains Omega-3 DHA and next-generation folic acid in its most bioavailable form. This combination contributes to the normal development of the fetus' brain and vision, and to the proper growth of maternal tissues, and of the baby.
Source R. Kofod Vinding et al. "Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy Increases Gestational Age, Size for Gestational Age, and Birth Weight in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial." The Journal of Nutrition.
