title: Does eating oily fish improve gestational and neonatal outcomes? Findings from a Sicilian study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fish is a source of long-chain polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids, but it may also contain a number of pollutants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April and July 2013, we selected 114 women who gave birth to living babies, and divided them according to type and frequency of the fish consumed. We evaluated both gestational and neonatal outcomes. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation was taken into account.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and four women (91.2%) consumed fish on the average of 4.7 times/month, while 10 (8.8%) did not consume fish at all. Fifty-nine women (51.8%) were taking supplements containing DHA (200mg/day), almost all of whom (n=55) consumed fish. Pregnancy induced hypertension was more frequent in non-fish eaters than in fish eaters (20% vs 4.8%, P=0.056). Consumption of small size oily fish correlated positively with both neonatal weight (r=0.195, P=0.037) and head circumference (r=0.211, P=0.024). In contrast, consumption of lean fish or shellfish correlated negatively with neonatal head circumference (r=0.206, P=0.028, or r=0.192, P=0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data agree with previous observational studies and reinforce the protective role of small oily fish consumption on preterm birth risk, neonatal weight, length and head circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small oily fish consumption should be favored over other types of fish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology, Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina School of Medicine, Messina 98125, Italy. Electronic address: mledonne@unime.it.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Donne
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alibrandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zanghì
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology, Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina School of Medicine, Messina 98125, Italy.
authors.forename: Onofrio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Triolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Master Program on Childhood, Adolescent and Women's Endocrine Health, University of Messina School of Medicine, Messina, Italy; Interdepartmental Program of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology & Women's Endocrine Health, University Hospital Policlinico G. Martino, Messina 98125, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benvenga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017747:Seafood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); Fetal growth; Fish; Omega-3 fatty acid; Pregnancy