In the past decade, there has been a lot of positive press attention on the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids. People have been encouraged to boost their wellbeing by ensuring that their diet is rich in food sources of the omega-3 fatty acids, or by taking a supplement of omega-3 as part of their daily routine.
Children in particular have been thought to benefit from the inclusion of omega-3 in their diets, and this has led to some mothers taking a supplement of omega-3 to benefit the wellness of their unborn baby. A new study, however, has shown that in fact taking omega-3 during pregnancy may not have any kind of beneficial effect on babies’ brain development during their early life.
A number of different studies have taken place, where the diets of pregnant women have been supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids and the results have varied. Carried out at the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute in Adelaide, the Australian study has found that there is neither a positive nor a negative link between omega-3 in pregnancy and neurological outcomes for babies.
In total, 11 clinical trials were carried out, spanning a total of 5,272 participants. During the trial, all participants were randomly assigned to take either a placebo or an omega-3 supplement during the second half of their pregnancy. Dosage varied across trials from just 240 mg to 3,300 mg per day, and the development measured also ranged from assessing newborns to testing the brain development of children aged around seven years old.
The results of all the studies showed no significant difference between the brain development in the children whose mothers had taken placebos and the children whose mothers had taken omega-3 fatty acids, indicating that there is no benefit. It is to be noted, however, that the study samples used in each case were quite small and, therefore, further research is required.
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