The effect of fish and omega-3 LCPUFA intake on low birth weight in Indian pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
Inadequate consumption of fish could be a risk factor for low birth weight (LBW). This study assessed fish intake and omega-3 LCPUFA intake and status for their association with LBW in a cohort of urban, south Indian pregnant women.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study, data on maternal fish intake and omega-3 LCPUFA intake and status of 676 women were obtained at baseline (first trimester), the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Infant birth weight was measured immediately following hospital delivery. The dropout rate was 7.6%.


RESULTS
Fifty-six percent of the study women consumed fish with low daily median intakes (3.4, 4.1 and 3.8 g day(-1) at the three trimesters, respectively). Consequently, the median intakes of EPA and DHA during pregnancy were also low at 2.1 and 10.1 mg day(-1), respectively. EPA and DHA intakes were associated with their status in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids during pregnancy (r=0.40 and 0.36, r=0.34 and 0.32 and r=0.37 and 0.41, at the three trimesters, respectively, all P<0.001). Women who did not eat fish during the third trimester had a significantly higher risk of LBW (OR: 2.49, P=0.019). Similarly, low EPA intake during the third trimester had an association with a higher risk of LBW (OR: 2.75, P=0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
Among low fish-eating pregnant women, fish intake in the third trimester was closely associated with birth weight. Supplementation with omega-3 LCPUFA during pregnancy may have important implications for fetal development in India.
Muthayya
S
S
Division of Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health Unit, St John's Research Institute, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India. sumithra@iphcr.res.in
Dwarkanath
P
P
Thomas
T
T
Ramprakash
S
S
Mehra
R
R
Mhaskar
A
A
Mhaskar
R
R
Thomas
A
A
Bhat
S
S
Vaz
M
M
Kurpad
A V
AV
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
D005395:Fish Oils; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid