Marine oil supplements for pregnant women: Good for mum, good for baby?

Abstract

Prenatal supplements containing n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are becoming popular with pregnant women, primarily because of the suggestion that an increased supply of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a key n-3 LCPUFA, may be important to fetal brain development. Current research data suggest that routine use of marine oil supplements in pregnancy probably has little benefit in preventing pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and low birthweight, although its use is safe during pregnancy. There is a suggestion that dietary DHA insufficiency may be associated with symptoms of postnatal depression; randomized, controlled studies are needed to investigate this possibility. The effect of a DHA-rich marine oil intervention in pregnancy on long-term development of children is under investigation. The possibility that maternal marine oil supplementation may modify neonatal immune function requires further investigation.