Nutritional roles of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and neonatal development (original) (raw)
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Long-chain ??-3 fatty acid supply in pregnancy and lactation
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 2008
Purpose of review Long-chain v-3 fatty acids are essential for the developing fetus. Docosahexaenoic acid, the most important v-3 fatty acid, is an important component of neural and retinal membranes, and rapidly accumulates in the brain during gestation and the postnatal period. Positive associations have been shown between maternal intake of fish, seafood and v-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and/or lactation and visual and cognitive development. Recent findings The review focuses on new findings by both observational and interventional studies on the influence of v-3 fatty acids during pregnancy or lactation on gestation length and birth weight, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, maternal depression and infant visual function and neural development. Summary Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular and other diseases. Observational and interventional studies indicate a significant association with prolonging gestation and reducing the risk of preterm delivery both in low-risk and in high-risk pregnancies. Further benefits have been suggested for intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia and postpartum depression, but the evidence is inconclusive. Higher maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake both in pregnancy and lactation is associated with positive infant neurodevelopmental outcomes. Women of reproductive age should achieve an average dietary docosahexaenoic acid intake of at least 200 mg/day.
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2020
Numerous benefits have been associated with omega-3 fatty acid consumption during pregnancy and the postpartum period, whether it is consumed in the diet with seafood or via supplements such as fish oil. This review primarily aimed to assess the current situation of the impact of omega-3 long-chain Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) supplementation on the outcomes of pregnancy. The electronic search of Medline, PubMed, Public Library of Science (PLOS) and Google Scholar databases was carried out for papers from 01 February 1995 to 01 March 2017 using keywords such as "pregnancy," "supplement," "long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids," "omega 3 fatty acids," and "clinical trials." Out of twenty-six studies, both observational and interventional, fourteen studies found the influence of omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy or the early postpartum period on the duration of gestation and infant size at birth, preeclampsia, depression, and infant visual function and neurodevelopment have been reported. Omega 3 fatty acid intakes (both in terms of absolute amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the ratio of these 2 fatty acids) varied widely in these studies, however, and no clear consensus exists regarding the effects of omega 3 fatty acids on any of these outcomes. Because of the potential importance of these fatty acids for pregnant or lactating women, fetus, and newborn infants and the limited data from clinical trials assessing the effect of these fatty acids on pregnancy and infant outcomes, additional research is required to better define optimal intakes of specific omega 3 fatty acids during these critical periods.
Nutritive Intake of OMEGA-3 Fatty Acids and Maternity
Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers)
Introduction: Pregnancy and lactation are physiological conditions, which put the female organism into a serious ordeal. The satisfaction of the nutritive needs during maternity plays a significant role in the favorable end of pregnancy and for the health of both mother and infant. A significant number of studies prove the importance of the essential fatty acids for mother's and baby's health. During this period the needs of fats do not exceed, but the requirements to them increase. Aim: To study the nutritive intake of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) in pregnant women in Varna, Bulgaria and to determine if there is a risk for nutritive deficiency. Materials and methods: A questionnaire (Food Frequency Questionnaire) about the consumption of foodssources of n-3 FA was distributed among 350 pregnant and nursing women in Varna, Bulgaria. Results and discussion: Less than 40% of the responders regularly consume foods, sources of polyunsaturated fatty acid: fish, walnuts, linseeds, etc. Only 9,3% of the young mothers take dietary supplements with n-3 FA. Conclusion: A low nutritive intake of essential fats was found. The receiving of PUFA dietary supplements is not popular among the Bulgarian mothers. Over half of the pregnant and nursing women are at risk of non-adequate intake of n-3 FA.
Role of omega 3 fatty acids on pregnancy outcome
International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2017
Background: Maternal nutrition plays a crucial role on influencing fetal growth and birth outcome. Any nutritional insult during critical periods of gestation is known to influence fetal development and increases the risk for development of diseases in later life. Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids have been studied to effect fetal growth and development. The balance between these two fatty acids have a definite effect on fetal growth and duration of gestation. Dietary intake of omega 3 fatty acids is less as compared to omega 6 fatty acids due to varied dietary sources. Methods: A study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital to study the pregnancy outcome in terms of neonatal birth weight and duration of gestation. A total of 200 patients were recruited into the study and divided into two groups by randomised alternative method. One group of 100 patients were supplemented with Omega 3 fatty acids and the other group was not supplemented. Both groups were followed till delivery and their duration of gestation and neonatal birth weight were studied and analysed. Results: The study showed that 78.8% patients supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids achieved neonatal birth weight more than 2.5Kg compared to 50% of patients who were not supplemented. No significant difference on duration of gestation was found in both the groups. Conclusions: Supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids to patients in our study has shown to increase neonatal birth weight compared to patients who have not been supplemented, and did not show any significance in prolonging duration of gestation.
APM, 2023
BACKGROUND: Fatty acids of the omega-3/omega-6 groups are used in cases of pregnancy, lactation and preterm birth. In recent decades, pediatrics has been trying to find out whether the use of omega-3/omega-6 has effects on human growth and neurodevelopment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 44 original articles on the topic of omega-3/omega-6 and human growth and nutrition, in gynecology and pediatrics have been selected on PubMed from January 1979 until March 2023. RESULTS: Significant critical issues emerged regarding published studies, despite encouraging evidence on the usefulness of omega-3/omega-6 used in pregnancy, lactation, states of malnutrition, and inflammatory processes, while data on the efficacy of use in fetal, neonatal, and pediatric patients are conflicting. Critical structural and functional issues emerge in the studies that may call into question the validity of the results. CONCLUSIONS: The data are encouraging and suggest that certain aspects of the type of administration and dosages of omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid supplementation should be investigated further to help demonstrate the clinical validity of such prescriptions, especially in terms of gestational maturation, growth, and human nutrition in clinical practice in Gynecology and Pediatrics.
Role of omega 3-fatty acids and multivitamins in gestation
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 2000
There is a rising interest in a balanced and varied women's diet not only preconceptionally but also during pregnancy and in the breastfeeding period in order to reduce fetal, neonatal, and maternal risks. A decreased intake of omega 3-fatty acids (FA) or deficiencies of micronutrients are a global health problem, not only in developing countries, where micronutrient-rich food and fortified aliments are often not available, and also in the industrialized world. In contrast to data about the daily periconceptionally intake of folate acid that has been shown to reduce substantially the occurrence and recurrence of neural tube defects (NTD), the benefit of other micronutrients is less determinant. Deficiencies of omega 3-FA may be a contributing factor for severe complications in pregnancy and postpartum. A meta-analysis for the role of omega 3-FA in preeclampsia and maternal postpartum depression is less consistent, some meta-view's results differ substantially or are even contradictory to large observational studies. Further well-designed studies are warranted. A personal interview and counseling concerning the daily diet should be integrated in the preconceptional and in the antenatal care and an individual supplementation should be offered, if indicated.
PEDIATRICS, 2001
Objective. There have been indications that high intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy may increase birth weight and gestational length. In addition, n-3 longchain PUFAs may be important for the neurobiological development of the infants. High levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) are found in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex and in the retina, and it seems as if the availability of long-chain PUFAs may be limiting cerebral development. The fetus and the newborn are dependent on a high supply from their mothers, either via the placenta or via breast milk. We supplemented pregnant and lactating women with n-3 or n-6 long-chain PUFAs to evaluate the effect on birth weight, gestational length, and infant development.
Effects of Maternal Ω-3 Supplementation on Fatty Acids and on Visual and Cognitive Development
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, 2015
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether a dairy drink enriched with v-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) could have an impact on the lipid profile of the mother and the newborn, and also whether this intervention could affect the newborns' visual and cognitive development. Methods: A total of 110 pregnant women were randomly assigned to one of the following intervention groups: control group (n ¼ 54), taking 400 mL/ day of the control dairy drink, and supplemented group (fish oil [FO]) (n ¼ 56), taking 400 mL/day of the fish oil-enriched dairy drink (including $400 mg eicosapentaenoic acid-docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]/day). During the study, the mothers' diets were supervised by a nutritionist to encourage compliance with present recommendations of FA intake. Blood fatty acid profiles were determined in the mother's (at enrollment, at delivery, and at 2.5 and 4 months) and newborn (at delivery and at 2.5 months) placenta and breast milk (colostrum and at 1, 2, and 4 months). Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) (at 2.5 and 7.5 months) and Bayley test (at 12 months) were recorded. Results: DHA percentage was higher in plasma, erythrocyte membranes, and breast milk samples from the FO group. The ratio of nervonic acid was also higher in plasma and erythrocyte lipids of the mother and newborn's blood samples from the FO group. No differences were observed in the Bayley test. No differences were observed in VEPs between both groups. We observed a shorter latency, however, in the lower visual angle (7.5 0) in the boys of the supplemented group. Conclusions: Omega-3 LC-PUFA dietary supplement during pregnancy and lactation influenced the mother and newborn's fatty acid profile and nervonic acid content but did not show effects on visual and cognitive/psychomotor development.