Omega-3 DHA Levels In Pregnancy: Here’s What Research Says

It's good for your brain, good for your eyes, good for your heart, and even good for your skin. 

It's a real gift from nature, found on land and under the sea. 

Can you guess what it is?

It's omega-3, an essential fatty acid filled with a treasure trove of health benefits. And, it’s biologically active forms include Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).¹ You probably must have heard how good omega-3 is for heart health, but did you know it also plays a vital role in the growth and development of a baby? Yes, it really does! So, if you’re expecting or planning to conceive, maintaining omega-3 DHA levels in pregnancy is of utmost importance. Read on to find out why!

An Overview Of Studies Based On Omega-3 DHA Levels In Pregnancy

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 million babies are born preterm i.e. before 37 weeks of pregnancy. And, based on the gestational age (that measures the age of pregnancy), preterm birth can be categorized into:²

• Extremely preterm i.e. not more than 28 weeks
• Very preterm i.e. between 28 to 32 weeks
• Moderate to late preterm i.e. 32 to 37 weeks

Globally, prematurity is the leading cause of death among children who are under 5 years of age.² But, the good news is that including omega-3 supplements in the diet during pregnancy can lower the risk of premature birth. Here are a few studies that prove the same:

Inclusion Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids In Diet To Reduce Preterm Birth³

Outcome 

According to this study, the prevalence of preterm and very preterm birth was lower in women who took omega-3 through supplements or diet. It was also observed that the risk of having a low birth weight baby may be lesser in these pregnant women.³

Impact Of DHA On Infant Neurodevelopment During Pregnancy⁴

Outcome 

Accumulation of DHA in the fetal brain takes place continuously throughout pregnancy, especially between 29 to 40 weeks. And, according to this research, DHA is majorly responsible for neurogenesis (formation of new neurons in the brain), neurotransmission (a process by which information is transferred between neurons and their targets), and signal transduction (when a cell reacts to substances outside the cell by signalling) in the brain. Plus, the intake of DHA during pregnancy is also seen to be necessary for retinal development in babies.^4,5,6,7

Importance Of Omega-3 Supplementation During Pregnancy⁸

Outcome 

It is observed that, appropriate omega-3 DHA levels in pregnancy are thought to be critical for the baby's brain and eye development from the third trimester to the age of 18 months. Hence, the research suggests that, omega-3 fatty acids should be consumed at the onset of pregnancy for the baby’s development.⁸ 

Moreover, the addition of omega-3 in the diet may also benefit women who are planning to conceive.⁸

Bottom Line

Less DHA intake by pregnant women will cause low DHA levels, thereby giving rise to cases such as premature birth and other health issues during pregnancy.⁹ 

So, to avoid such instances, pregnant women are advised to consume at least 200 mg of DHA⁹ per day in their diet. Enough omega-3 DHA levels in pregnancy can be obtained from a variety of sources like fish, vegetable oils (flaxseeds, canola, soybean), or supplements.⁸

Well, now that you’re aware of omega-3s importance for your baby’s development, do you want to track the DHA levels in your body? 

We hope so! 

If you’re expecting a baby, here’s how you can get started!

LifeCell offers OmegaScore-P, a prenatal test that measures omega-3 DHA levels in pregnancy. It’s a quick self-collection blood test which can be taken from the comfort of your home. To get started all you need to do is - order your kit from www.lifecell.in, collect your blood sample with a simple finger prick, send it to our lab and voila…you’ll receive your results just within a few days!