Press Release

Adding DHA omega-3 to diet during pregnancy and nursing provides benefits for healthy pregnancy and child development

Athens, 29th August 2007 - A European committee of over 50 experts has unveiled new recommendations stating that pregnant and nursing women should include at least 200mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – a type of omega-3 – in their diet every day.
While it has long been accepted that omega-3s offer health benefits, intake levels have varied. With this in mind, the European Commission tasked the Perinatal Lipid Nutrition group (PeriLip) and the Early Nutrition Programming Project with examining the role of omega-3s, and providing clear dosage recommendations to women and healthcare professionals.
The expert committee found that women who had included DHA omega-3 in their diet had healthier pregnancies – for example, their babies had higher birthweights and they experienced fewer premature births. The benefits also extended after birth, where DHA intake was also linked with improved outcomes for the baby, such as enhanced brain and eye development.1
“We reviewed a wealth of evidence on the benefits of DHA omega-3 and hope that our findings will offer clear guidance for healthcare professionals on the optimum DHA omega-3 intake for women during pregnancy and nursing” comments Professor Berthold Koletzko, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Munich and a key member of the expert group. “We also hope that new and expectant mothers will be able to use this specific information to ensure that they are getting enough DHA omega-3 to gain the nutritional benefits throughout their pregnancy and during nursing.”
Omega-3 fats are regarded as beneficial, however information about specific outcomes particularly during pregnancy and nursing can often be confusing and conflicting, reinforcing the importance of this new guidance. Women who consume a typical Western diet are at risk of low stores of DHA omega-3 – this is because the main dietary sources of DHA (e.g. fatty fish) are not staples of the Western diet. European women are therefore less likely to be getting enough DHA from their diet – a problem which this new recommendation aims to highlight. DHA omega-3 can be found in fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel - the European Food Standards Agency currently advises that consumption of two portions of fatty sea fish per week is safe for pregnant and breast feeding women. However, the DHA found in fatty fish can also be found in other dietary sources. Excellent vegetarian sources of algal DHA can be found in foods and supplements, which is especially important for pregnant women who are worried about consuming fish.
"At the moment, there is a limited awareness of the role of omegas in infant development" says Professor Stewart Forsyth, Consultant Paediatrician and Medical Director at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee. "Over the last 10 years many studies have highlighted the importance of DHA omega-3 during pregnancy and nursing, and this EU Commission research has confirmed the benefits for unborn babies and for infant development. It is therefore crucial that expectant and new mothers understand the benefits of DHA omega-3, and consume the recommended intake of DHA during pregnancy and nursing."
- Ends –
For further information please contact:
Dafni Kokkidi
Ketchum
T : 0207 611 3591
Email : dafni.kokkidi@ketchum.com
Julia O’Brien
Ketchum
T: 0207 611 3515
Email: julia.obrien@ketchum.com
Notes to Editors
PeriLip Group Research – Additional Findings
• Intakes of up to 1g DHA/day or 2.7 g n-3 LCPUFA/day were used in randomised clinical trials without significant adverse effects
• The PeriLip and Early Nutrition Programming Project also recommended that women should be screening during pregnancy for possible dietary inadequacies, with individual counselling offered if needed
About the PeriLip and Early Nutrition Programming Project
PeriLip
The PeriLip group is a committee of European experts who completed a four-year research programme to examine and define the roles played by different fatty acids during pregnancy. The group is supported by the European Union, with the ultimate goal being the improvement of pregnancy dietary guidelines. The expert teams within the PeriLip group are based across several European cities (including Lyon, Madrid, Munich, Milan Wye and Graz) and each team is lead by some of the foremost experts within the fields of gynecology and obstetrics, paediatrics and nutrition.
The Early Nutrition Programming Project
This project is a large collaborative investigation into the long-term consequences of early nutrition by metabolic programming. It is coordinated by the University of Munich and brings together a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from 38 institutions in 16 European countries. It is funded under the Food Quality and Safety Priority of the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development of the European Community (FOOD-CT-2005-007036). The EU is contributing 13.4 million euros towards a total cost of 16.5 million euros.
About DHA omega-3
Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, or ‘good’ fat, found throughout the body. It is a major structural fat in the brain and retina of the eye accounting for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain and up to 93 percent of the omega-3 fats in the retina. ,
It is also a key component of the heart. Studies have shown that DHA omega-3 is important for infant brain, eye and nervous system development3,4, , and has been shown to support long-term heart health. It is important throughout pregnancy, but particularly in the third trimester when significant brain growth occurs.4 Mothers who supplement their DHA levels during pregnancy and nursing, significantly enhance the level of DHA available to their unborn baby and infant.
References
1. Koletzko B, Irene C, Thomas BJ for the Perinatal Lipid Intake Working Group (2007). Dietary Fat Intakes For Pregnant And Lactating Women. Abstract presented at the International Congress of Paediatrics, Athens, 29 August 2007
2. European Food Safety Authority. Opinion of the Scientific Panel on contaminants in the food chain on a request from the European Parliament related to the safety assessment of wild and farmed fish (Question N° EFSA-Q-2004-22, Adopted on 22 June 2005). The EFSA Journal 2007 Jun 22;236:1-118.
3. Martinez M. Tissue levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids during early human development. Pediatr, 1992.120:S129-38
4. Lauritzen L, et al. The essentiality of long chain n-3 fatty acids in relation to development and function of the brain and retina. Prog Lipid Res, 2001. 40:1-94.
5. Salem, Jr. N, et al. Mechanisms of action of docosahexaenoic acid in the nervous system. Lipids, 2001. 36:945-59
6. Crawford MA. The role of essential fatty acids in neural development: implications for perinatal nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr, 1993. 57:703S-709S
7. Forsyth JS, et al. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infant formula and blood pressure in later childhood: follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 2003. 326(7396):953
8. Jensen C et al. Effect of DHA supplementation of lactating women on the fatty acid composition of breast milk lipids and maternal and infant plasma phospholipids. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(suppl);292S-9S

Editor's Details

Dafni Kokkidi
dafni.kokkidi@ketchum.com

Last updated on: 27/08/2010 11:40:18