Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation may contribute to the prevention of early preterm brith in both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.

Effects of supplementing LCPUFA to the diet of pregnant women: data from RCT.

Tamás Decsi

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr

Nov 1, 2004

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Abstract

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation on pregnancy outcomes were recently systematically reviewed for both low-risk (uncomplicated) and high-risk pregnancies. The duration of pregnancy was found to be significantly enhanced by n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in low-risk (two systematic reviews, weighted mean difference: 2.55 and 1.57 days, 95% CI: 1.13-4.07 and 0.35-2.78 days), but not in high-risk pregnancies. The relative risk of giving birth before the 34th week of gestation was found to be reduced by n-3 LCPUFA supplementation both in low-risk (0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.99) and in high-risk (0.39, 95% CI: 0.19-0.84) pregnancies. Recent evidence indicates that enhancement of maternal intake of n-3 LCPUFA prolongs the duration of gestation in low-risk pregnancies and may contribute to the prevention of early preterm birth in both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.