Fish Oil Supplementation In Pregnancy Research Articles

Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopment in Childhood-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

A double-blind randomized controlled trial of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation or matching placebo during third trimester of pregnancy was conducted within the COPSAC2010 mother-child cohort consisting of 736 women and their children. The objective was to determine if maternal n-3 LCPUFA pregnancy supplementation affects offspring neurodevelopment until 6years. Neurodevelopment was evaluated in 654 children assessing age of motor milestone achievement, language development, cognitive development, general neurodevelopment, and emotional and behavioral problems. Maternal n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy improved early language development and reduced the impact of emotional and behavioral problems. The n-3 LCPUFA supplementation was in boys associated with the earlier achievement of gross motor milestones, improved cognitive development, and a reduced impact of emotional and behavioral problems.

Double-blind RCT of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation to improve the metabolic health in children of mothers with overweight or obesity during pregnancy: study protocol

IntroductionMaternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with adverse changes in body composition and metabolism in the offspring. We hypothesise that supplementation during pregnancy of overweight and obese women may help...

Plasma metabolomic profiles associated with infant food allergy with further consideration of other early life factors

BackgroundFatty acids have been implicated in early life immune development. Food allergy provides a clear phenotype of early allergic disease. Fish oil and vitamin D have immune-modulating properties. We aimed to identify the metabolomic profile of (i) infant food allergy and (ii) factors linked to food allergy in past studies such as fish oil supplementation and serum 25OHD3 levels in early life. MethodsNMR was used to quantify 73 metabolites in plasma of 1 year old infants from the Barwon Infant Study (n=485). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between infant metabolome and food allergy in infants. Linear regression models were used to describe associations between maternal fish oil supplementation and 25OHD3 levels with infant metabolites. ResultsA higher linoleic acid: total fatty acid (FA) ratio and phenylalanine level were associated with higher odds of food allergy. Antenatal fish oil supplementation was positively associated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and omega-3 related metabolite levels. Postnatal 25OHD3 levels at 1 year of age were positively associated with several FA measures and creatinine and inversely with the saturated FA: total FA ratio. Only the postnatal 25OHD3 patterns persisted after adjustment for multiple comparisons. ConclusionsInfants with food allergy had altered fatty acid profiles at one year. Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy was associated with higher DHA and omega-3 related metabolites at 1 year of age. Associations were modest and the most robustly altered metabolomic profiles were with postnatal 25OHD3 levels.

Fish-oil supplementation in pregnancy, child metabolomics and asthma risk

BackgroundWe recently demonstrated that maternal dietary supplementation with fish oil-derived n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) during pregnancy reduces the risk of asthma in the offspring but the mechanisms involved are unknown. MethodsHere we investigated potential metabolic mechanisms using untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics on 577 plasma samples collected at age 6 months in the offspring of mothers participating in the n-3 LCPUFA randomized controlled trial. First, associations between the n-3 LCPUFA supplementation groups and child metabolite levels were investigated using univariate regression models and data-driven partial least square discriminant analyses (PLS-DA). Second, we analyzed the association between the n-3 LCPUFA metabolomic profile and asthma development using Cox-regression. Third, we conducted mediation analyses to investigate whether the protective effect of n-3 LCPUFA on asthma was mediated via the metabolome. FindingsThe univariate analyses and the PLS-DA showed that maternal fish oil supplementation affected the child's metabolome, especially with lower levels of the n-6 LCPUFA pathway-related metabolites and saturated and monounsaturated long-chain fatty acids-containing compounds, lower levels of metabolites of the tryptophan pathway, and higher levels of metabolites in the tyrosine and glutamic acid pathway. This fish oil-related metabolic profile at age 6 months was significantly associated with a reduced risk of asthma by age 5 and the metabolic profile explained 24% of the observed asthma-protective effect in the mediation analysis. InterpretationSeveral of the observed pathways may be involved in the asthma-protective effect of maternal n-3 LCPUFA supplementation and act as mediators between the intervention and disease development. FundingCOPSAC is funded by private and public research funds all listed on www.copsac.com.

Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy Increases Gestational Age, Size for Gestational Age, and Birth Weight in Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized trials have reported that supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in pregnancy can prolong pregnancy and thereby increase birth weight. We aimed to examine the relations of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy with duration of pregnancy, birth weight, and size for gestational age (GA). This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in 736 pregnant women and their offspring, from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2010cohort. They were recruited between weeks 22 and 26 in pregnancy and randomly assigned to either of 2.4 g n-3 LCPUFA or control (olive oil) daily until 1 wk after birth. Exclusion criteria were endocrine, cardiovascular, or nephrologic disorders and vitamin D supplementation intake >600 IU/d. In this study we analyzed secondary outcomes, and further excluded twin pregnancies and extrauterine death. The primary outcome for the trial was persistent wheeze or asthma. The random assignment ran between 2008 and 2010. Six hundred and ninety-nine mother-infant pairs were included in the analysis. n-3 LCPUFA compared with control was associated with a 2-d prolongation of pregnancy [median (IQR): 282 (275-288) d compared with 280 (273-286) d, P=0.02], a 97-g higher birth weight (mean±SD: 3601±534 g compared with 3504± 528 g, P=0.02), and an increased size for GA according to the Norwegian population-based growth curves-Skjærven (mean±SD: 49.9±28.3 percentiles compared with 44.5±27.6 percentiles, P=0.01). Supplementing pregnant women with n-3 LCPUFAs during the third trimester is associated with prolonged gestation and increased size for GA, leading to a higher birth weight in this randomized controlled trial. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00798226.

Effect of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on bone, lean, and fat mass at six years: randomised clinical trial

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of supplementation with n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) in pregnancy on anthropometry and body composition in offspring.DesignDouble blinded, randomised controlled trial.SettingCopenhagen Prospective Studies...

Can Early Omega-3 Fatty Acid Exposure Reduce Risk of Childhood Allergic Disease?

A causal link between increased intake of omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and increased incidence of allergic disease has been suggested. This is supported by biologically plausible mechanisms, related to the roles of eicosanoid mediators produced from the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid. Fish and fish oils are sources of long chain omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs. These fatty acids act to oppose the actions of n-6 PUFAs particularly with regard to eicosanoid synthesis. Thus, n-3 PUFAs may protect against allergic sensitisation and allergic manifestations. Epidemiological studies investigating the association between maternal fish intake during pregnancy and allergic outcomes in infants/children of those pregnancies suggest protective associations, but the findings are inconsistent. Fish oil provision to pregnant women is associated with immunologic changes in cord blood. Studies performed to date indicate that provision of fish oil during pregnancy may reduce sensitisation to common food allergens and reduce prevalence and severity of atopic eczema in the first year of life, with a possible persistence until adolescence. A recent study reported that fish oil consumption in pregnancy reduces persistent wheeze and asthma in the offspring at ages 3 to 5 years. Eating oily fish or fish oil supplementation in pregnancy may be a strategy to prevent infant and childhood allergic disease.

Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): A Systematic Review.

ContextOne of the most common complications of pregnancy is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is increasing worldwide. Experimental and epidemiological studies have shown that higher intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids may decrease the risk of various diseases such as diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fish oil supplementation on the prevention and treatment of GDM.Evidence AcquisitionThis systematic review was performed by searching several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Science Direct SID, Magiran and IranMedex since 1983. The researchers also searched for references in reviewed clinical trial articles in which fish oil supplementation was compared with placebo or no supplementation.ResultsOnly two published and in-press articles are included in this review. Based on these studies, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched fish oil (800 mg/d) had no effect on prevention of GDM [0.97 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.27)]. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 120 mg DHA had beneficial effects on insulin resistance in women with GDM (change from baseline: 1.5 ± 7.5 vs ‏3.5 ± 8.5 mIU/mL, P = 0.02) but did not influence fasting plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment-Beta cell function (HOMA-B), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), or lipid profiles (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThere is not enough evidence to support or refute the routine use of fish oil supplements during pregnancy for the prevention or treatment of diabetes. It is suggested that further randomized controlled trials be conducted to evaluate the role of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy.

The effect of fish oil supplementation on serum phospholipid fatty acids profile during pregnancy: A double blind randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACTOmega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are essential unsaturated long-chain FAs necessary for proper health and growth. The objective of the authors in this study was to evaluate the effect of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on maternal serum FA profiles. Participants (n = 150 pregnant women aged 18–35 years in Tabriz, Iran) were randomly assigned to receive either 1,000 mg fish oil supplements daily containing 120 mg docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or placebo from week 21 of pregnancy to delivery. The primary outcome measures were mean serum DHA and EPA proportion of total FAs at weeks 35–37 of pregnancy. Analyses were based on intention-to-treat. No significant differences were observed between the groups in consumption of fish and serum FAs levels at baseline. Fish oil supplementation significantly increased the mean DHA proportion of total FAs in the intervention compared to the placebo group at weeks 35–37 [adjusted Mean Difference (aMD) = 0.15; 95% CI 0.08–0.23]. The mean EPA proportion of total FAs also increased in the intervention group, but the difference between the groups was not significant (aMD = 0.04; 95% CI −0.01 to 0.08). The dietary recommendation for consumption of 1,000 mg/day fish oil supplements during pregnancy seems beneficial for better serum FA composition.

Analysis of hospital cost outcome of DHA-rich fish-oil supplementation in pregnancy: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveRecent research emphasized the nutritional benefits of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) during pregnancy. Based on a double-blind randomised controlled trial named “DHA to Optimize Mother and Infant Outcome” (DOMInO), we examined how omega 3 DHA supplementation during pregnancy may affect pregnancy related in-patient hospital costs. MethodWe conducted an econometric analysis based on ordinary least square and quantile regressions with bootstrapped standard errors. Using these approaches, we also examined whether smoking, drinking, maternal age and BMI could influence the effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on hospital costs. ResultsOur regressions showed that in-patient hospital costs could decrease by AUD92 (P<0.05) on average per singleton pregnancy when DHA supplements were consumed during pregnancy. Our regression results also showed that the cost savings to the Australian public hospital system could be between AUD15 – AUD51 million / year. ConclusionGiven that a simple intervention like DHA-rich fish-oil supplementation could generate savings to the public, it may be worthwhile from a policy perspective to encourage DHA supplementation among pregnant women.

Docosahexaenoic Acid Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis in Mice by Generating T Regulatory Cells and M2 Macrophages

Han et al. (this issue) describe a novel mechanism by which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may suppress atopic dermatitis symptoms in mice. They find that DHA induces FoxP3 T regulatory cells in vivo, M2 macrophages drive transforming growth factor-β and IL-10 conversion of CD4 T cells to CD4 FoxP3 T regulatory cells in vitro, and DHA-treated M2 macrophages suppress atopic dermatitis in mice.

Maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy: a 12 year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial.

A number of trials have been undertaken to assess whether the intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) during pregnancy can influence the neurological development of the offspring, yet no consensus from these trials has been reached. We aimed to investigate the long-term effects (12 years) of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on neurodevelopment, including cognition, language and fine motor skills. In a follow up of a previously published randomised controlled trial of 98 pregnant women, their children were assessed at 12 years of age using a battery of neurodevelopmental assessments. Fifty participants were assessed at 12 years, with 25 participant’s mothers receiving fish oil supplementation, and 25 receiving control capsules. There were no significant differences for any of the assessment measures completed. Our data indicate that fish oil supplementation during pregnancy does not influence the cognition, language or fine motor skills of children in late primary school (12 years of age).

Effect of maternal ω3 fatty acid supplementation on infant allergy

The prevalence of atopic disease has steadily increased during the past half century, reaching epidemic proportions in the last several years. The underlying cause is unknown but is likely due to a complex interaction of many factors. 1 Priftis K.N. Mantzouranis E.C. Anthracopoulos M.B. Asthma symptoms and airway narrowing in children growing up in an urban versus rural environment. J Asthma. 2009; 46: 244-251 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar , 2 Kang B.C. Johnson J. Veres-Thorner C. Atopic profile of inner-city asthma with a comparative analysis on the cockroach-sensitive and ragweed-sensitive subgroups. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1993; 92: 802-811 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (97) Google Scholar , 3 Martino D. Prescott S. Epigenetics and prenatal influences on asthma and allergic airways disease. Chest. 2011; 139: 640-647 Crossref PubMed Scopus (178) Google Scholar , 4 Dunstan J.A. Mori T.A. Barden A. et al. Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy modifies neonatal allergen-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes in infants at high risk of atopy: a randomized, controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003; 112: 1178-1184 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (432) Google Scholar , 5 Martinez F.D. Cline M. Burrows B. Increased incidence of asthma in children of smoking mothers. Pediatrics. 1992; 89: 21-26 PubMed Google Scholar The increase seems to follow a geographic pattern of industrialization and is inconsistent with an underlying genetic cause. Because the prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other inflammatory disorders has increased in parallel with that of atopic disease, we hypothesize that nutritional intake is also influencing the development of allergic sensitization. [6] Watson P.E. McDonald B.W. Subcutaneous body fat in pregnant New Zealand women: association with wheeze in their infants at 18 months. Matern Child Health J. 2013; 17: 959-967 Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar Because it has drastically changed during the past 20 years, the consumption of dietary fatty acids has been studied as a cause of many of these inflammatory disorders; however, the effect on the development of atopic disease remains unclear.

Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and childhood allergies

Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and childhood allergies

Randomized controlled trial of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on childhood allergies

Diets high in n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) may modulate the development of IgE-mediated allergic disease and have been proposed as a possible allergy prevention strategy. The aim of this study was to determine whether n-3 LCPUFA supplementation of pregnant women reduces IgE-mediated allergic disease in their children. Follow-up of children (n = 706) at hereditary risk of allergic disease in the Docosahexaenoic Acid to Optimise Mother Infant Outcome randomized controlled trial. The intervention group (n = 368) was randomly allocated to receive fish oil capsules (providing 900 mg of n-3 LCPUFA daily) from 21 weeks' gestation until birth; the control group (n = 338) received matched vegetable oil capsules without n-3 LCPUFA. The diagnosis of allergic disease was made during medical assessments at 1 and 3 years of age. No differences were seen in the overall percentage of children with IgE-mediated allergic disease in the first 3 years of life between the n-3 LCPUFA and control groups (64/368 (17.3%) vs 76/338 (22.6%); adjusted relative risk 0.78; 95% CI 0.58-1.06; P = 0.11). Eczema was the most common allergic disease; 13.8% of children in the n-3 LCPUFA group had eczema with sensitization compared with 19.0% in the control group (adjusted relative risk 0.75; 95% CI 0.53-1.05; P = 0.10). Overall, n-3 LCPUFA supplementation during pregnancy did not significantly reduce IgE-associated allergic disease in the first 3 years of life. Further studies should examine whether the nonsignificant reductions in IgE-associated allergies are of clinical and public health significance.

Fish-oil supplementation in pregnancy does not reduce the risk of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia

There is uncertainty regarding the efficacy of increasing n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) intake during pregnancy in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia. The objective was to determine whether n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in pregnancy reduces the incidence of GDM or preeclampsia. A secondary objective was to assess the effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on perinatal complications. This was a double-blind, multicenter randomized control trial-the DHA to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome (DOMInO) trial. Pregnant women (n = 2399) of <21 wk gestation were randomly assigned to receive DHA-enriched fish oil (800 mg/d) or vegetable oil capsules without DHA from trial entry to birth. The presence of GDM or preeclampsia was assessed through a blinded audit of medical records. Birth outcomes and prenatal complications were also assessed. The overall incidences of GDM and preeclampsia were 8% and 5%, respectively, based on clinical diagnosis. The RR of GDM was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.27) and of preeclampsia was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.60, 1.25), and they did not differ significantly between the groups. Birth weight, length, and head circumference z scores also did not differ between the groups. There were 12 perinatal deaths and 5 neonatal convulsions in the control group compared with 3 perinatal deaths and no neonatal convulsions in the DHA group (P = 0.03 in both cases). DHA supplementation of 800 mg/d in the second half of pregnancy does not reduce the risk of GDM or preeclampsia. Whether supplementation reduces the risk of perinatal death and neonatal convulsions requires further investigation. The DOMInO trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as TRN12605000569606.

Effect of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phospholipids and breast milk lipids

To investigate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phospholipids and breast milk lipids, pregnant Brazilian women in the 30th week of gestation were randomized to supplement their usual diet with 2 g/day of fish oil (FO group) or primrose oil (PO group, control) capsules for 15 days. Erythrocyte phospholipids from FO group had proportionally higher docosahexaenoicacid and eicosapentaenoic acid levels and furthermore, the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA was significantly lower in the breast milk lipids compared with the control group. Assessment of plasma anti-oxLDL autoantibodies and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance concentration demonstrated that both groups had the same levels and they were unaltered by supplementations.

Allergic disease in infants up to 2 years of age in relation to plasma omega‐3 fatty acids and maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation

We have previously reported a protective effect of maternal omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 LCPUFA) supplementation in pregnancy and lactation on IgE-associated eczema and food allergy in the infant during the first year of life. Here we investigate whether the effects of the LCPUFA supplementation on IgE-associated diseases last up to 2 yr of age and assess the relationship between plasma proportions of ω-3 PUFAs and the frequency and severity of infant allergic disease. 145 pregnant women, at risk of having an allergic infant, were randomized to daily supplementation with 1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or placebo starting in the 25th gestational week and continuing through 3.5 months of breastfeeding. Clinical examinations, skin prick tests and analysis of maternal and infant plasma phospholipid fatty acids and infant specific IgE were performed. No difference in the prevalence of allergic symptoms was found between the intervention groups. The cumulative incidence of IgE-associated disease was lower in the ω-3-supplemented group (6/54, 13%) compared with the placebo group (19/62, 30%, p=0.01). Higher maternal and infant proportions of DHA and EPA were associated with lower prevalence of IgE associated disease (p=0.01-0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Higher maternal and infant proportions of DHA and EPA were found if the infants presented none, when compared with multiple allergic symptoms, (p<0.05) regardless of sensitization. In summary, the ω-3 supplementation offered no obvious preventive effect on the prevalence of clinical symptoms of allergic disease, but the decrease in cumulative incidence of IgE-associated disease seen during the first year still remained until 2 yr of age. Furthermore, high proportions of DHA and EPA in maternal and infant plasma phospholipids were associated with less IgE-associated disease and a reduced severity of the allergic phenotype.

Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy

Maternal intake of omega-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy has decreased, possibly contributing to a current increased risk of childhood allergy. To describe the effects of maternal omega-3 long-chain PUFA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the incidence of allergic disease in infancy. One hundred and forty-five pregnant women, affected by allergy themselves or having a husband or previous child with allergies, were included in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Daily maternal supplementation with either 1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid or placebo was given from the 25(th) gestational week to average 3-4 months of breastfeeding. Skin prick tests, detection of circulating specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and clinical examinations of the infants were performed. The period prevalence of food allergy was lower in the omega-3 group (1/52, 2%) compared to the placebo group (10/65, 15%, p < 0.05) as well as the incidence of IgE-associated eczema (omega-3 group: 4/52, 8%; placebo group: 15/63, 24%, p < 0.05). Maternal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may decrease the risk of food allergy and IgE-associated eczema during the first year of life in infants with a family history of allergic disease.

The Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy on Breast Milk Fatty Acid Composition Over the Course of Lactation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study evaluated the longitudinal effect of fish oil in pregnancy on breast milk fatty acid composition and infant outcomes. In a randomized, controlled trial, 98 women received 2.2 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 1.1 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or olive oil from 20 wk of gestation until delivery. Fatty acid composition in breast milk (at 3 d, 6 wk, and 6 mo) and infant erythrocyte membranes (at 1 y) were determined by gas liquid chromatography. Breast milk fatty acids were examined in relationship to growth and development. Compared with control group, breast milk from women who received fish oil had proportionally higher DHA and EPA levels at 3 d and 6 wk after delivery, but this difference was no longer apparent by 6 mo. Infant DHA status at 1 y of age was directly related to DHA levels at 3 d, 6 wk, and 6 mo postpartum (but not to antenatal supplementation). Both EPA and DHA in breast milk were positively correlated with Griffith's developmental scores including hand and eye coordination. Thus, supplementation in pregnancy was associated with increased n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in breast milk, particularly in early lactation, and this was positively associated with infant DHA status at 1 y.