during pregnancy: a double blind randomized controlled trial

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential unsaturated long-chain fatty acids that are necessary for proper health and growth. Objective: to evaluate the effect of fish oil supplement on maternal serum fatty acids profile in pregnancy. Method: This is a randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial carried out on 150 pregnant women aged 18-35 from Feburary 2014 to April 2015 in Tabriz-Iran. Participants assigned to receive either 1000 mg fish oil supplements containing 120 mg docosahexanoic acid and 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid from the week 21 of pregnancy to birth. Primary outcome was maternal DHA and EPA fatty acids serum composition in 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. Fatty acid methyl esters were extracted and analyzed for fatty acid composition. Frequency of fish intake was determined by self-report questionnaire. Results: General characteristics were similar in both groups (P>0.05). About two-thirds of the women in both groups reported no taking of fish in the last month. At baseline, there were no significant differences between two groups in terms of fatty acids compositions. Supplementation with fish oil increased the mean DHA. So that, it was significantly higher than the placebo group at 35-37 weeks (adjusted MD = 0.15; [95% CI 0.08 to 0.23]). The mean EPA also increased after intervention but difference between two groups was not significance (adjusted MD = 0.04; [95% CI -0.01 to 0.08]).Conclusion: Based upon the results, presenting dietary recommendation about intake of proper fish products as fish oil supplements by health care providers during pregnancy seems beneficial.

Keywords:

fish oil supplementation , omega-3 , serum fatty acids , DHA , EPA