Takeaway
- Maternal supplementation with n−3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in early pregnancy (<20-34 weeks of gestation) did not result in a lower incidence of early preterm deliveries.
- The incidence of post-term obstetrical interventions did not increase with the supplementation of n-3 LC-PUFA.
Why this matters
- The World Health Organization recommends an intake of 300 mg of n-3 LC-PUFA per day in pregnant women
- Previous studies have suggested that n-3 LC-PUFA may lower the incidence of preterm delivery; however, limited data exist regarding their role in pregnancy.
Study design
- Omega-3 to Reduce the Incidence of Preterm Birth (ORIP) study included 5517 pregnant women who were randomly assigned to receive n−3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid capsules (n-3 group; n=2770) and vegetable-oil capsules (control group; n=2774].
- Primary outcome: early preterm delivery (delivery <34 weeks of gestation).
- Funding: The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and others.
Key results
- No significant difference was observed in early preterm delivery between n-3 and control group (2.2% vs 2.0%; adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.13; 95% CI, 0.79-1.63; P=.50).
- The incidence of post-term obstetrical interventions (>41 weeks), adverse events, or other pregnancy or neonatal outcomes did not differ between the two groups.
- The proportion of infants born very large for gestational age at birth (>97th percentile) was higher in the n−3 group vs control group (5.2% vs 4.0%; aRR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.65).
- No significant difference was observed in the serious adverse events between both the groups (0.5% vs 0.4%; P=.41).
- Minor gastrointestinal disturbances were more frequent in the n−3 vs control group.
Limitations
- In the absence of clear evidence in terms of change in other infant anthropometry measures, and a large number of outcomes assessed, this may be a chance finding.
References
References
