title: Effects of supplementing LCPUFA to the diet of pregnant women: data from RCT.
abstract: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation on pregnancy outcomes were recently systematically reviewed for both low-risk (uncomplicated) and high-risk pregnancies. The duration of pregnancy was found to be significantly enhanced by n-3 LCPUFA supplementation in low-risk (two systematic reviews, weighted mean difference: 2.55 and 1.57 days, 95% CI: 1.13-4.07 and 0.35-2.78 days), but not in high-risk pregnancies. The relative risk of giving birth before the 34th week of gestation was found to be reduced by n-3 LCPUFA supplementation both in low-risk (0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.99) and in high-risk (0.39, 95% CI: 0.19-0.84) pregnancies. Recent evidence indicates that enhancement of maternal intake of n-3 LCPUFA prolongs the duration of gestation in low-risk pregnancies and may contribute to the prevention of early preterm birth in both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. tamas.decsi@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Decsi
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated