title: Polyunsaturated fatty acids and  fetal brain development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  I have learned that one of the manufacturers of prenatal vitamins has added omega-3 fatty acids and claims that they help support fetal cognitive health and brain function. Is this based on evidence?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The claim that polyunsaturated fatty acids help improve fetal brain and eye development has been made for more than a decade. Unfortunately it is not supported by evidence-based science. Long-term studies have failed to show such effects. Implying to women that using these products will improve the brain development of their children is unwarranted and misleading. Health Canada should clarify the contradictions in its statements about omega-3 fatty acids.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koren
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D002170:Canada; D017277:Drug Approval; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014815:Vitamins
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014815:Vitamins