Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy

Gal Dubnov-Raz MD MSC, Yaron Finkelstein MD, Gideon Koren MD FRCPC

May 2007

ABSTRACT

QUESTION

Several pregnant patients have asked recently whether media reports of children’s intelligence quotients’ increasing with increased intake of essential fatty acids are meaningful enough to be worth the effort of supplementation. What advice should they be given?

ANSWER

Existing evidence from interventional studies is sparse and conflicting and should not lead to supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids.

QUESTION

Quelques patientes enceintes m’ont demandé récemment si les rapports médiatiques à l’effet que le quotient intellectuel des enfants augmentait avec un apport accru en acides gras essentiels étaient assez significatifs pour justifier de prendre un supplément. Quels conseils faut-il leur donner?

RÉPONSE

Les données scientifiques actuelles tirées d’études interventionnelles sont plutôt rares et contradictoires et ne sont pas suffisantes pour recommander un supplément d’acides gras essentiels.

[full story]

Morning Sickness

Approximately 20% of women experience NVP for a longer period of time. Some women may suffer from NVP until the end of the pregnancy.

Find out more »

Drugs in Pregnancy

Pregnancy, whether planned or a pleasant surprise, brings with it important concerns about prescription and over the counter drugs.

Find out more »

Breastfeeding and Drugs

There are several agents for which safety during breast-feeding is not well-defined and may be a risk to the infant.

Find out more »
Alcohol, Nicotine, Substance Use

Pregnant? It's never too late to get the facts about alcohol and pregnancy

Find out more »

Conditions in Pregnancy

Exposure to certain infectious diseases during pregnancy may pose a risk to the unborn baby.

Find out more »

Folic Acid

Research shows that women who take vitamins that contain folic acid may lower the risk that their baby will be born with a birth defect called a neural tube defect.

Find out more »
Nutrition

Good nutrition during pregnancy improves the chances of having a healthy baby who will be at lower risk of diseases.

Find out more »

Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy

Exposure to certain infectious diseases during pregnancy may pose a risk to the unborn baby.

Find out more »

Herbal Products

Natural doesn't always mean safe. But that doesn't stop millions of people, including pregnant women, from consuming naturopathic products.

Find out more »
Cancer in Pregnancy

Motherisk has been painfully aware of the lack of data about the management of cancer in pregnancy.

Find out more »

HIV and HIV Treatment

It is important that you get tested for HIV. There are many pregnant women who are HIV positive and do not know about it.

Find out more »

Occupational & Environmental Exposures

There are thousands of chemicals in use in today's workplaces - and more women at work than ever before.

Find out more »