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Most prenatal supplements lack the amount of omega-3 fatty acids that can help prevent preterm birth, meaning delivery before 37 weeks’ gestation. This is an important finding of a new study published by the research team in the American Journal of Perinatology.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients found largely in fatty fish. They help prevent inflammation and in doing so reduce the risk of premature birth.
However, our study showed that only about 1 in 6 prenatal supplements on the market in the US that contain omega-3 fatty acids provide the amount that most pregnant women need.
The researchers used the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s dietary supplement label database to identify prenatal supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids. We then compared the amounts of omega-3 stated on product labels with the amounts recommended in new guidelines published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine by a team of experts representing international obstetrics and child health organizations .
Guidelines recommend different doses of omega-3 fatty acids depending on whether a woman’s baseline intake before pregnancy was adequate or inadequate.
We found that 70% of prenatal supplements that included omega-3 provided the amount that is recommended for women consuming adequate amounts. However, previous research has shown that only 5% of pregnant women and women of childbearing age consume adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, for women with inadequate intake, a prenatal supplement containing higher amounts of omega-3 would be helpful.
why it matters
Premature birth is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. It is also a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality, leading to costly stays in neonatal intensive care units. And then it has a huge emotional impact on parents and families.
Premature birth also significantly increases a child’s risk of long-term health outcomes such as intellectual disability, chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and mental illness in adulthood.
Yet few treatment options exist for premature birth.
This is where omega-3 fatty acids come in. They reduce the risk of premature birth by reducing the production of signaling molecules that initiate labor.
A Cochrane review of 26 randomized controlled trials showed that 1,000 mg of supplemental omega-3 fatty acids per day could reduce the risk of preterm birth by 11%, and the risk of preterm birth by 34% before 34 weeks’ gestation. Childbirth – can reduce by 42%.
Keeping in mind that prenatal supplements often do not contain the required amount of omega-3, one option is to take additional omega-3 supplements with a prenatal vitamin to supply the difference and gain benefits.
Still, omega-3 supplements are not always necessary. New guidelines recommend that all women of childbearing age should consume 250 mg of omega-3 daily. This amount can be obtained from about two 3-ounce servings per week of fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and anchovies.
While women increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids before pregnancy, recommended intake levels are reduced during pregnancy. This is a way to eliminate the need for supplements in the first place.
However, women of childbearing age should also consider mercury levels in fish because of its adverse effects on fetal neural development. While most species of salmon are low in mercury, some fish that are rich in omega-3s may be moderately high in mercury. It is important to consult local public health guidelines on mercury levels in fish to ensure safe consumption levels.
What hasn’t been found out yet?
Omega-3 fatty acids are chemically unstable molecules that are naturally fragile, and thus prone to oxidation, a process whereby oxygen degrades the molecule, rendering it ineffective. Studies have shown wide variation in oxidation levels in commercial omega-3 supplements. What’s worse, there are few predictors of omega-3 supplement quality.
Nevertheless, despite their high risk for oxidation, commercially available omega-3 supplements have demonstrated notable benefits in clinical trials.
what will happen next
Considering the inconsistent levels of omega-3 fatty acids in prenatal supplements, their instability, and the ability of dietary sources to meet supplement needs before pregnancy, more research is needed to understand whether women How to stimulate increased omega-3 intake. Childbearing age.
Recognizing that many women will still need omega-3 from supplemental sources, longitudinal studies tracking omega-3 levels in prenatal supplements will be important.
Furthermore, continued efforts are needed to promote the translation of this information into clinical settings to ensure that pregnant women, and the health care professionals caring for them, are able to utilize the great potential of omega-3 fatty acids. Are capable. Prevention of premature birth.
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