During pregnancy, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is required physiologically for optimal development and function of the central nervous system. The maternal intake of DHA must be sufficient to maintain maternal tissue stores and meet fetal requirements. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of prenatal DHA supplementation on gestational age and birth size.
Based on the study outcomes, the following observations were made:
Infant but not maternal red blood cell (RBC) phospholipid DHA increased significantly in the high DHA group.
High-DHA group had a significant increase in duration of gestation of 6.0 ± 2.3 days compared with the ordinary DHA group (276.5 days vs. 270.5 days, p=0.009).
Infants in the DHA supplemented group were significantly longer at delivery (p=0.048) and had a trend toward larger head circumference (p=0.081).
Duration of gestation increased significantly when docosahexaenoic acid intake was increased during the last trimester of pregnancy.
The increase in gestation was similar to that of previously reported interventions with much larger amounts of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
Smuts CM, Huang M, Mundy D et al. A randomized trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101(3):469-479..
