Role of omega 3 fatty acids on pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Background: Maternal nutrition plays a crucial role on influencing fetal growth and birth outcome. Any nutritional insult during critical periods of gestation is known to influence fetal development and increases the risk for development of diseases in later life. Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids have been studied to effect fetal growth and development. The balance between these two fatty acids have a definite effect on fetal growth and duration of gestation. Dietary intake of omega 3 fatty acids is less as compared to omega 6 fatty acids due to varied dietary sources.Methods: A study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital to study the pregnancy outcome in terms of neonatal birth weight and duration of gestation. A total of 200 patients were recruited into the study and divided into two groups by randomised alternative method. One group of 100 patients were supplemented with Omega 3 fatty acids and the other group was not supplemented. Both groups were followed till delivery and their duration of gestation and neonatal birth weight were studied and analysed.Results: The study showed that 78.8% patients supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids achieved neonatal birth weight more than 2.5Kg compared to 50% of patients who were not supplemented. No significant difference on duration of gestation was found in both the groups.Conclusions: Supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids to patients in our study has shown to increase neonatal birth weight compared to patients who have not been supplemented, and did not show any significance in prolonging duration of gestation.