Get an expanded, downloadable version to your inbox when you sign up.
Food and Behaviour Research
Omega 3 in Pregnancy for Brain Health & Preterm Birth
Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk for:
- depression & other psychiatric disorders
- developmental conditions e.g. ADHD
- cognitive impairment
- breathing problems
- feeding difficulties
- cerebral palsy
- vision problems
- hearing problems
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years globally. Preterm birth impacts babies, mothers & families internationally
Nutrition could help, but remains ignored
Highest-level evidence shows that preterm births could be reduced by increasing maternal intake during pregnancy of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA).
Low maternal omega-3 LC-PUFA status in pregnancy is common, as fish & seafood are the primary dietary sources.
This raises risks for preterm birth - which is a major cause of many lifelong physical health problems, as well as difficulties affecting brain function, behaviour, learning & mental health.
Low-cost nutritional interventions can reduce those risks.
Gold-Standard expert evidence
- A Cochrane systematic review & meta-analysis of 70 RCTs (involving almost 20,000 women) showed that supplementing pregnant women with omega-3 LC-PUFA reduces preterm birth (Middleton et al 2018).
- Consensus statement from ISSFAL reports there is good evidence to support the use of omega-3 supplements during pregnancy to prevent preterm birth (Best et al 2022).
- Clinical practice guidelines on long chain omega-3 fatty acid supply in pregnancy for risk reduction of preterm births have been published by experts (Cetin et al 2024).
Enjoying this article?
Save lives and money
Clinical trials in the US & Australia have shown supplementation with omega-3 in pregnancy would be cost-effective, based on short-term hospital costs alone:
Given the lifelong costs of many conditions that can arise when babies are born preterm, the cumulative benefits of optimising omega-3 status in pregnancy would be immense.
Were you expecting a paywall?
Food and Behaviour Research relies on donations to make articles like this one freely available.
Make a quick and easy donation of ANY AMOUNT and help support our Charity to create future articles and resources.
All donations are very gratefully received
Thanks so much for your support
Contact Us
What can be done - starting now?
- Public health authorities can recommend assessing Omega-3 LC-PUFA status in pregnancy, to identify those most at risk for preterm birth & low birth weight.
- During primary care interactions, simple questionnaires can identify women with low omega 3 LC-PUFA status (e.g. how much fish or seafood is regularly eaten? Are they vegetarian or vegan?)
- Omega-3 status can be increased if needed by offering information, dietary guidance &/or supplements
- Clinical practice guidelines can do more to raise both public & professional awareness of the critical importance of Omega 3 LC-PUFA in supporting a healthy pregnancy.
- Recommended pregnancy supplements can be required to include adequate amounts of Omega-3 DHA (in addition to all other essential nutrients).
- Further research evidence to evaluate the impact of these measures can be gathered.
Gaps in Guidelines & Reports
At present, many guidelines & reports continue to ignore the scientific evidence that higher Omega-3 intakes can reduce preterm birth, or their vital role in brain health & development.
e.g. the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ‘Born Too Soon’ report, the UK’s NICE Guidelines on Maternal & Child Nutrition, and the UK House of Lords expert report ‘Preterm Birth: Reducing Risks & Improving Lives’.
Read more on Pregnancy and Early Life
Nutrients obtained from the mother directly impact the developing brain, shaping its form and function - with lifelong consequences for the child.
Why Nutrition and Diet Matter Food and diet can affect children's mood, behaviour and ability to learn
Most pregnant UK women DON'T get enough iodine from their diets – but it’s key for their baby’s brain development
Food and Behaviour Research is a registered charity (No SC034604) and a company limited by guarantee (Co No SC 253448)
what we do
Important Notice:
Medical opinion and guidance should always be sought for any symptoms that might possibly reflect a known or suspected disease, disorder or medical condition. Information provided on this website (or by FAB Research via any other means) does not in any way constitute advice on the treatment of any medical condition formally diagnosed or otherwise.