Mike Montemarano, Associate Editor 02.11.21
Recently, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) updated its national pregnancy care guidelines to include an evidence-based recommendation to “Advise pregnant women that supplementation with omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (800 mg DHA and 100 mg EPA per day) may reduce their risk of preterm birth, if they are low in omega-3.”
The recommendation, which will be included in 2020-2025 national nutrition guidelines, are significantly higher than the 110-115 mg/day of EPA, DHA, and DPA included in the 2006 Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Further, the Australian recommendations are significantly higher in daily value than those made by several other governments, including the United States.
The Australian health agency cited a number of cross-sectional studies on women taking fish oil during pregnancy – currently, 12% of pregnant women in Australia take fish oil supplements. According to their analysis, there is “high certainty evidence that rates of preterm birth <37 weeks and early preterm birth <34 weeks are lower in women receiving omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with no omega-3.”
There is also moderate-certainty evidence that prolonged pregnancy greater than 42 weeks is probably increased with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, and that omega-3 supplementation is associated with reduced risk of low birthweight, perinatal death, and neonatal care admission.
The 800mg DHA and 100 mg EPA dosage is specifically modeled after a 2019 trial, ORIP (Omega-3 Fats to Reduce the Incidence of Prematurity), which found the significant associations with the aforementioned benefits.
The recommendation, which will be included in 2020-2025 national nutrition guidelines, are significantly higher than the 110-115 mg/day of EPA, DHA, and DPA included in the 2006 Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Further, the Australian recommendations are significantly higher in daily value than those made by several other governments, including the United States.
The Australian health agency cited a number of cross-sectional studies on women taking fish oil during pregnancy – currently, 12% of pregnant women in Australia take fish oil supplements. According to their analysis, there is “high certainty evidence that rates of preterm birth <37 weeks and early preterm birth <34 weeks are lower in women receiving omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with no omega-3.”
There is also moderate-certainty evidence that prolonged pregnancy greater than 42 weeks is probably increased with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, and that omega-3 supplementation is associated with reduced risk of low birthweight, perinatal death, and neonatal care admission.
The 800mg DHA and 100 mg EPA dosage is specifically modeled after a 2019 trial, ORIP (Omega-3 Fats to Reduce the Incidence of Prematurity), which found the significant associations with the aforementioned benefits.
