Effect of N-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation of Women with Low-Risk Pregnancies on Pregnancy Outcomes and Growth Measures at Birth

A systematic review 1 including 6 studies with a total of 1278 subjects was abstracted in DARE. Supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) was associated with a significantly longer duration of pregnancy (WMD 1.57 days, 95% CI 0.35 to 2.78; 6 RCTs, n=1278). There were no significant differences between n-3 LC-PUFA and control in the percentage of pre-term deliveries, or rates of low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, Caesarean section, gestational diabetes, or placental weight. Supplementation with n-3 LC-PUFA was associated with significantly greater head circumference than control (WMD 0.26 cm, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.49; 4 RCTs, n=729). After excluding studies classified as having a high risk of bias, there was no significant difference between supplementation and control (WMD 0.26 cm, 95% CI: -0.02, 0.53). There were no significant differences between n-3 LC-PUFA and control in birth weight or length at birth. No statistically significant heterogeneity was detected for any of these analyses.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (some limitations in original trials).

References

• Szajewska H, Horvath A, Koletzko B. Effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of women with low-risk pregnancies on pregnancy outcomes and growth measures at birth: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2006; 83(6): 1337-1344.