Pregnancy & Infant Health
Recommendations for pregnant and lactating women
The World Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Early Nutrition Academy, and the Child Health Foundation have supported a review of consensus recommendations and practice guidelines for pregnant and lactating women.
The DIAMOND study published
Researchers from the DIAMOND (DHA Intake and Measurement of Neural Development) study, a double-masked, randomized trial conducted in Dallas and Kansas City, concluded DHA supplementation of infant formula improved visual acuity in term infants. The study was first published ahead of print on 3 February in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Click here for the full report.
Birch E, Carlson S, Hoffman D, Fitzgerald-Gustafson K, LN Fu V, Drover J, Castañeda Y, Minns L, Wheaton D, Mundy D, Marunycz J and Diersen-Schade D. The DIAMOND (DHA Intake And Measurement Of Neural Development) Study: a double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial of the maturation of infant visual acuity as a function of the dietary level of docosahexaenoic acid. Am J Clin Nutr (February 3, 2010). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28557
Low omega-3 intake linked to depression in pregnancy
This study collected data from women participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, in the period 1991‐1992,at 32 weeks' gestation. The results showed lower maternal intake of omega‐3 from seafood was associated with high levels of depressive symptoms. Compared with women consuming more than 1500m g omega‐3 from seafood per week, those consuming none were more likely to have high levels of depressive symptoms at 32 weeks' gestation.
Golding
J,
Steer
C,
Emmett
P,
Davis
JM,
Hibbeln
JR.
High
levels
of
depressive
symptoms
in
pregnancy
with
low
omega‐3
fatty
acid
intake
from
fish.
Epidemiology.
2009
Jul;20(4):598‐603.
Fish advice for pregnant women - Is it too restrictive?
Hibbeln et al reported on the neurodevelopmental outcomes in children whose mothers’ fish intake was monitored during pregnancy (The ALSPAC study, an observational study conducted in the UK).
Link between DHA levels and infant mental development
Australian research suggests a link between DHA levels and mental development of premature newborn girls.
Omega-3s and the incidence of allergy in infants
A new study examined the effects of maternal long chain omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the incidence of allergic disease in infancy.
Fish oil supplementation improves foetal long chain omega-3 status
Krauss-Etschmann et al report that fish oil supplementation from week 22 until delivery improves the foetal long chain omega-3 status.
