Effect of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy: the Nuheal trial

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2005:569:109-13. doi: 10.1007/1-4020-3535-7_15.

Abstract

In this placebo controlled, randomised, double blind trial, pregnant women received from the 20th week of gestation onwards either 500 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 400 mg 5-methyl-tetra-hydro-folate (5-MTHF), or placebo, or a combination of 500 mg DHA and 400 mg 5-MTHF. The dietary supplements were well tolerated; the dropout rates did not differ significantly in the active arms of the study (10% to 19%) from that seen in the placebo group (13%). DHA supplementation resulted in significant enhancement of the contribution of DHA to maternal, placental and venous cord blood lipids.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / blood
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / blood
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange*
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second / blood
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third / blood
  • Tetrahydrofolates / administration & dosage
  • Tetrahydrofolates / blood

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Tetrahydrofolates
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • 5-methyltetrahydrofolate