title: The Salmon in Pregnancy Study: study design, subject characteristics, maternal fish and marine n-3 fatty acid intake, and marine n-3 fatty acid status in maternal and umbilical cord blood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oily fish provides marine n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids that are considered to be important in the growth, development, and health of the fetus and newborn infant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives were to increase salmon consumption among pregnant women and to determine the effect on maternal and umbilical cord plasma marine n-3 fatty acid content.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (n = 123) with low habitual consumption of oily fish were randomly assigned to continue their habitual diet or were provided with 2 portions of farmed salmon/wk to include in their diet from week 20 of pregnancy until delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median weekly consumption frequency of study salmon in the salmon group was 1.94 portions, and total fish consumption frequency was 2.11 portions/wk in the salmon group and 0.47 portions/wk in the control group (P < 0.001). Intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from the diet, from seafood, and from oily fish were higher in the salmon group (all P < 0.001). Percentages of EPA and DHA in plasma phosphatidylcholine decreased during pregnancy in the control group (P for trend = 0.029 and 0.008, respectively), whereas they increased in the salmon group (P for trend for both < 0.001). EPA and DHA percentages were higher in maternal plasma phosphatidylcholine at weeks 34 and 38 of pregnancy and in umbilical cord plasma phosphatidylcholine in the salmon group (P < 0.001 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If pregnant women, who do not regularly eat oily fish, eat 2 portions of salmon/wk, they will increase their intake of EPA and DHA, achieving the recommended minimum intake; and they will increase their and their fetus' status of EPA and DHA. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00801502.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Noakes
authors.forename: Lefkothea-Stella
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kremmyda
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlachava
authors.forename: Norma D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Diaper
authors.forename: Grethe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosenlund
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Urwin
authors.forename: Parveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yaqoob
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossary
authors.forename: Marie-Chantal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Farges
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vasson
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liaset
authors.forename: Livar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frøyland
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Helmersson
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Josune
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olza
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mesa
authors.forename: Concepcion M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Sian M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Hazel M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Inskip
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012474:Salmon; D017747:Seafood; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid