TAKING FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS IN LATE PREGNANCY BOOSTS BABY'S BRAINPOWER, STUDY FINDS

An Australian study published in the Dec. 21, 2006 edition of the online journal Archives of Disease in Childhood found that women who take high doses of fish oil supplements in the second half of pregnancy give birth to children with greater coordination and increased brainpower later in life.

Researchers from the University of Western Australia recruited 98 pregnant women who did not smoke and ate fish no more than twice per week. The researchers gave one group of women 4g of daily fish oil supplements starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy, while the second group was given daily 4g supplements of olive oil from 20 weeks on.

When the women's children were 2.5 years old, the researchers administered growth and development tests.

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MOST WOMEN UNAWARE OF KEY NUTRIENT NEEDED FOR BABIES’ DEVELOPMENT DURING PREGNANCY

Most women are aware of only two of the “Big 3” nutrients considered essential during pregnancy and breastfeeding, according to a Kelton Research survey sponsored by the Society for Women’s Health Research, a Washington, D.C.- based national advocacy organization. The majority of women surveyed know the importance of including folic acid and calcium with vitamin D in their diet, but half of them do not know about the need for DHA Omega-3, a critical nutrient for the development and health of a baby’s brain, heart and eyes.

A growing body of scientific evidence continues to demonstrate that DHA Omega-3 is an important building block of perinatal nutrition. Often overlooked by mothers and health care providers alike, it is possibly the most important nutrient expectant mothers don’t know about.

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