[Fish oil supplementation and duration of pregnancy. A randomized controlled trial].
It was hypothesised from previous observational studies in the Faroes and Denmark that dietary marine n-3 fatty acids would prolong the duration of pregnancy and thereby increase the birth weight, by influencing the production of prostaglandins involved in the process of parturition. Five hundred and thirty-three healthy Danish women were randomly assigned in the 30th week of pregnancy to fish oil (2.7 g n-3 fatty acids (4 1-g capsules Pikasol oil) per day), olive oil (4 1-g capsules per day) or no oil supplementation. The three groups differed in mean gestational age at birth (ANOVA, p = 0.006), with the fish oil group ranking highest and the olive oil group lowest. Babies born to women allocated fish oil had on average 4.0 (95% confidence interval 1.5;6.4) days higher gestational age and 107 (95% confidence interval 1;214) g higher weight at birth than babies born to women allocated olive oil; the difference in gestational age depended on the level of fish intake at enrollment, with a low fish intake enhancing the difference. Fish oil supplementation in the third trimester seems to prolong gestation while allowing continued growth of the foetus; this effect seems to explain the difference between the Faroes and Denmark in pregnancy duration.
Olsen
S F
SF
Aarhus Universitet, Obstetrisk-gynaekologisk afdeling Y, Danmarks Farmaceutiske Højskole, København.
Søorensen
J D
JD
Secher
N J
NJ
Hedegaard
M
M
Henriksen
T B
TB
Hansen
H S
HS
Grant
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003718:Denmark; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils
Fiskeolietilskud og graviditetsvarighed. En randomiseret kontrolleret undersøgelse.