Increased intake of omega-3 during pregnancy can reduce preterm births

摘要

The WHO defines preterm births as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy; 10.6% of all live births globally are preterm, and it is the leading cause of death for children aged <5 years. The causes of preterm births are complex; the role of diet and nutrition is acknowledged. Fish and fish oil contain omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA); particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicos-apentaenoic acid (EPA) have been associated with longer pregnancies, and it is suggested that omega-3 fatty acids taken during pregnancy may influence a range of maternal and child health outcomes.