It’s not the quantity of you
diet that is important when you are pregnant, but the quality. The
complex development of a child that occurs during pregnancy
requires a rich supply of vitamins, minerals and essential fats for
both mother and child, as often the need for certain nutrients
increase. If, however, nutrient stores are low, this can pose a
risk of diet related problems during pregnancy.
Over the last decade, reports concerning the role of omega 3
essential fatty acids during pregnancy have increased and it is now
impossible to ignore the essential role this nutrient plays in the
development of an unborn child.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) primarily found in oily fish, are
particularly important for the development of a child’s
brain. Structural components of all tissues, essential fatty acids
are found in the highest concentrations in the brain, which is
actually unsurprising when you consider that the brain is composed
of over 60% fat. In an unborn child, fatty acids are critical for
the neurological and visual development of the baby and are
incorporated into the brain cells and retina of the eye during
pregnancy and in the first year after birth. Concentrations of DHA
in the foetal brain tissues increase three to fivefold in the last
three months of pregnancy and as much again in the first three
months of life making up 10-15% of the weight of a baby’s
cerebral cortex and 50% of the weight of each retina. DHA is so
important to foetal development that during the final stages of
pregnancy the placenta takes it from the mothers own blood and
concentrates them in the baby’s own circulation. But if a
mothers omega 3 stores are low, DHA can be obtained from the
mothers own brain which can account for a slight shrinkage (2-3%)
of maternal brain size and may explain why some pregnant women
experience poor concentration and forgetfulness.
Because baby’s cannot produce DHA from essential fatty
acids until they reach four months, they must rely on their mothers
breast milk or enriched formulas for their source of omega 3 and
research shows that those newborns fed on maternal milk or formula
enriched with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA,
have better visual acuity than those who do not. Further studies
also show that deficiencies have been associated with delays in the
visual and cognitive function of newborns.
Deficiencies can also have implications for the mother and her
pregnancy. Women with much lower stores of omega 3 essential fatty
acids have a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a condition
that complicates around 5-10% of pregnancies and often a leading
contributor in maternal mortality, fetal growth retardation and
perinatal mortality.
Omega 3 also plays an essential role in preventing pre-term labour
and delivery and supplementation of omega 3 essential fatty acids
has been shown to reduce the risk of an early delivery.
Furthermore, because omega 3 fatty acids play such a key role in
cognitive function, deficiencies have been shown to increase a
mothers risk of post-partum depression.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids cannot be produced in the body and
must therefore be supplied through the diet. The best food source
is oily fish, but there are some concerns surrounding the safety of
oily fish for pregnant women as it may contain unsafe levels of
toxins and pollutants. Therefore, the FSA has advised a limited
intake of only 2 portions of oily fish per week as a result of
these concerns. For those who do not like fish or share concerns
about the toxin and pollutant levels in oily fish, a good
alternative is a pure, pharmaceutical-grade omega 3 supplement.
"Pregnant women should be encouraged to take a DHA rich, pure
omega 3 fish oil supplement as it is essential both for the
baby’s development and the mother’s wellbeing" - Dr
Adam Carey, Gynaecologist and Nutrition expert.
Related Articles:
back to the top »