Omega-3 supplements and reducing premature births

An Australian trial has found that omega-3 supplements can help reduce around 14% of early preterm births in women with a deficiency of fatty acids.

Following on from the findings, a ‘world-first screening and treatment programme’ has been put in place in South Australia, according to NewScientist.com.

Some years ago, Professor Maria Makrides, of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), began a research trial with colleagues in which 5,500 pregnant women were given either a 1 gram omega-3 fish oil capsule per day or a placebo. Each woman started the trial before she was 20 weeks pregnant.

Cutting the risk of premature birth by more than 75 per cent

The researchers found that, of the women who had low levels of omega-3 at the outset, the introduction of the fish oil supplement reduced the risk of early-onset labour before 34 weeks by 77 per cent.

However, the risk of preterm birth increased in women who had high levels of omega-3 at the outset of the supplementation trial.

These findings suggest that omega-3 screening in pregnant women and the monitoring of fish oil supplements could help reduce the number of premature births experienced by otherwise healthy women.

Screening programme results are encouraging

Following their research, Professor Makrides and her team launched a screening programme in South Australia and since May 2021 around 3,000 women have been tested for levels of omega-3 in their blood. Of those screened, 17% have been found to have low levels of omega-3.

From the combined findings of the supplementation study and the screening research in South Australia, the team estimates that if women with low omega-3 levels take supplements from early in their pregnancy it could prevent around 1 in 7 preterm births.

Professor Makrides says, “Finding ways to prevent premature birth is one of the highest priorities in maternal and child health.”

Pregnancy and childbirth specialists have so far found few effective ways to prevent preterm labour and, Professor Makrides adds, while her team at SAHMRI has not yet found a clear reason why omega-3 fatty acids are successful in preventing premature labour in women who start their pregnancy with low levels of omega-3, there is some evidence that it influences pre-labour contractions of the uterus and changes to the uterus.

NOTE: Always consult your healthcare team before taking supplements and medication during pregnancy.