Fish Oil During Pregnancy May Cut Miscarriage Risk

The researchers studied the effect of dietary Omega 3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil) on the placenta and fetus of pregnant laboratory animals and found that after fish oil supplementation the placenta had higher levels of compounds called resolvins. They concluded that the omega-3 fatty acids present in fish oil can help limit inflammation in the placenta, by being converted to compounds called resolvins in the placenta. The study has been published in the Journal of Lipid Research.

"Many people will have heard that fish oil is good for you but we don't fully understand the mechanisms," says lead researcher and PhD student Megan Jones. "The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are known to limit inflammation, and only recently it has come to light that they do this by being converted to resolvins that reduce inflammation after it's occurred."

"These findings significantly help further our understanding of how fish oil intake may be beneficial during pregnancy," she said.

What are the Benefits of Fish Oil Supplements?

Omega-3 fatty acids have positive effects on the pregnancy itself. Apart from reducing risk of pregnancy complications they are good for the fetal growth and development too.

The two most beneficial omega-3s are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA supports the heart, immune system, and inflammatory response. DHA supports the brain, eyes, and central nervous system and this is the reason why it is so important for pregnant women.

Omega-3s have been found to be essential for both neurological and early visual development of the baby. There is some evidence that mothers who take 4 g of fish oil daily during the last half of pregnancy may improve their baby's cognitive development by some measures such as better hand and eye coordination, but reasoning, social, motor, and speech skills are not significantly improved.

Studies have also shown that higher consumption of omega-3s may reduce the risk of Allergies in Infants.

Omega-3 deficiency increases the mother's risk for Depression. This may explain why postpartum mood disorders may become worse and begin earlier with subsequent pregnancies.

However, fish oil doesn't seem to help prevent high Blood Pressure during pregnancy.

What to Eat During Pregnancy?

The best sources of EPA and DHA are cold water fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, sturgeon, mullet, bluefish, anchovy, sardines, herring, and trout. They provide about 1g of omega-3 fatty acids in about 3.5 ounces of fish. If you are worried about mercury and other toxins in fish, especially during pregnancy, opt for purified Fish Oil Supplements. These are often the safest source of EPA and DHA.

The NHS, UK, guideline recommends limiting the amount of tuna consumed to 2 tuna steaks (or 6o z. /170 g) a week. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pregnant women can safely eat up to 12 ounces (340 g) of seafood a week.

Seafood is also a very good source of protein, iron and zinc that are essential for pregnant women. But avoid large, predatory fish such as Shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish; they can contain high levels of mercury. Do not eat any raw shellfish or sushi. If taking fish oil supplements be sure to purchase supplements from a reputable source.

Fish Oil Dosage

ISSFAL (the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids) recommends consuming 300 mg DHA daily for pregnant and lactating women.

The FDA recommends fish oil to be safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women when taken in low doses (3 g or less per day). Taking more than 3 g per day might keep blood from clotting and can increase the chance of bleeding. High doses of fish oil may also reduce the immune system's activity, reducing the body's ability to fight infection.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant and lactating women consume 500 mg to 1000 mg of fish oil per day ensuring that at least 300 mg are DHA. Although most capsules of fish oil supplements are 1000 mg, they may actually contain only 200 mg to 500 mg of fish oil.

Fish Oil Recommended During First Trimester of Pregnancy

The American Pregnancy Association recommends taking DHA throughout pregnancy and during the early stages of an infant's life, though the critical period in which DHA may influence brain growth may be in the first trimester of pregnancy.

This said, DHA alone doesn't ensure a trouble free pregnancy and delivery of a healthy baby. A balanced diet and regular exercise is the key.

Reference: http://www.jlr.org/content/54/8/2247.abstract

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High Fat Diet During Pregnancy Could Increase Chances of Obesity in Offspring

by Dr. Nithin Jayan on? June 25, 2013 at 11:35 AM Health Watch High fat diet during pregnancy may predispose the offspring to overeating; permanent changes are induced in brain cells that control food intake. An increased preference for fatty and sugary foods has been shown in offspring who were exposed to high fat diet while in the womb.
The study performed on monkeys, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, showed the influence that maternal diet had on offspring's dietary habits. Male offspring born to monkeys that ate a high-fat diet during pregnancy had increased body weight, compared with the offspring of mothers that ate a low-fat diet.

"Studies in humans have demonstrated that maternal obesity during pregnancy is a strong determinant of offspring body mass index, or BMI," said the study's lead author, Juliana Gastao Franco, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Oregon Health and Science University.

"Our group demonstrated that consumption of a high-fat diet during gestation alters fetal development of neurons that control food intake, ultimately leading to an increased preference for high-calorie food and to increased body fat in the offspring."

Investigators studied monkeys born to females that consumed either a low-fat (control) diet, consisting of 14 percent of calories from fat, or a high-fat diet in which 36 percent of calories came from fat. The total food intake, dietary preferences, body composition, physical activity and metabolic rate, which is the rate at which the body burns calories, were measured once the monkeys were 6 to 11 months of age.

Detailed studies that focused on the monkeys' hypothalamus, the region of the brain that regulates food intake, were then performed. All male offspring that had prenatal exposure to a high-fat diet had increased body weight, despite having no changes in their metabolic rate and regardless of what they ate after weaning. An increased overall food intake and increased binge eating of food with high sugar and fat were noticed.

Researchers explain that the altered habits are due to permanent changes in their hypothalamus of the monkeys due to prenatal exposure to high-fat diet. The study was presented at the Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco. At this time, it would be premature to make definitive conclusions based on these 'animal trials'. However to be on the safer side, pregnant mothers are advised to adhere to healthy diets as per body requirements. Always visit your obstetrician and nutritionist for more advice on diet.

Source-Medindia

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