Omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy prolongs gestation and increases birth weight of infants

Photo © iStockphoto.com/Rinelle 

A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition¹ shows that fish oil supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy increased gestational age, size of gestational age, and the birth weight of infants. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 736 women from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 cohort were recruited 22 to 26 weeks into their pregnancy and given either 2.4 grams of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids or control (olive oil) until one week after giving birth.

Results showed that compared to control, women taking omega-3s during their pregnancy experienced a prolongation of pregnancy an average of two days, their babies had a 97 g higher birth weight, and an increased size for gestational age. This study adds to the body of research demonstrating the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on the prenatal care of babies, reducing the risk of preterm birth.
 

References:

1. Vinding RK 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, vol. 149, no 4 (2019): 628-634