Pregnant women should take an omega-3 supplement every day to promote the health of their unborn child and aid infant development, an EU committee has advised.
A new study has found that a daily 200mg dose of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a form of omega-3 fatty acid, should be taken by pregnant women to promote healthier pregnancies.
Women who took the fatty acid were also found to have children with higher birth weights and experience fewer premature births.
As a result, the Perinatal Lipid Nutrition Group (PeriLip) and the Early Nutrition Programming Project have said that pregnant women should take daily supplements, as the western diet fails to provide the necessary amount of omega-3.
"It is crucial that expectant and new mothers understand the benefits of DHA omega-3 and consume the recommended intake during pregnancy and nursing," said Professor Stewart Forsyth, consultant paediatrician and medical director at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, in an interview with the Scotsman.
In addition, research has suggested that DHA supplements may ease depression and the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Pregnant women should take an omega-3 supplement every day to promote the health of their unborn child and aid infant development, an EU committee has advised.
