fish oil from new zealand ferrezi black omega 3

Importance of Maintaining Omega-3 Intake During the Third Trimester Potentially reducing the risk of giving birth prematurely is great news: Preterm birth impacts approximately 1 in 10 babies born in the United States and is the leading cause of death for children under age 5 worldwide (11). For instance, a big 2018 review of the omega-3 research to date found that women with increased intakes of omega-3s had an 11% lower risk of having their baby born less than 37 weeks out, and a 42% lower risk of having their baby born less than 34 weeks after conception (11). Research consistently demonstrates that women with lower blood levels of omega-3s have a higher risk of delivering prematurely than women with higher blood levels of these fatty acids. Can Omega-3s Reduce the Risk of Premature Birth?Īlthough the causes of preterm birth are complex and varied, scientists believe that in many cases, inflammation may be a contributing factor.

More research has shown that the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA act as substrates for important molecules called “protectins” and “resolvins.” These molecules do exactly what they their names imply: They help resolve and protect against inflammation (10). For one, studies show that omega-3s support the microbiome and help inhibit certain types of inflammation-producing bacteria (9). There are a couple of theories for why omega-3s help to reduce inflammation during pregnancy. In particular, inflammation during pregnancy has been linked with a greater likelihood of developing preeclampsia (5), postpartum depression (6), having a premature baby (7), and having a child with mental illness (8). This is important since higher rates of inflammation are also associated with worse pregnancy outcomes, especially among overweight women (3, 4). But other types of omega-3s are also important to consume during pregnancy.Īside from brain health, recent research has become increasingly focused on how omega-3s impact maternal inflammation during pregnancy. For instance, fatty acids account for about 60% of the dry weight of the brain, with much of that coming from the omega-3 molecule DHA (1).ĭHA is the omega-3 fatty acid best associated with brain development. While omega-3 fatty acids are found in every cell of the human body, they are especially plentiful in the brain and eyes. One 2018 animal study from France, for example, found that omega-3 deficiency during pregnancy negatively impacted the memory performance of adult offspring (2). In addition, getting too little omega-3 could be detrimental for the fetus’ developing brain. To date, a number of studies have shown that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy later improved children’s hand-eye coordination, focus, and problem solving skills (1), although these results have not always been consistently replicated. Many people think of fish and fish oil as “brain food.” And in fact, many scientists have researched how prenatal omega-3s influence a baby’s brain development. While scientists are uncovering big benefits, they’re also demonstrating that it’s important to pay attention to the quality and fatty acid composition of the oil. Over a decade later, a flood of new studies have given us a clearer picture of how omega-3s impact everything from brain development to postpartum depression.

To my then 12-year-old daughter’s embarrassment, we didn’t shy away from mentioning how these fatty acids influence fertility and pregnancy. Back when my daughter was in middle school, my husband Bo and I gave a lecture to her science class about how omega-3s work in the body.

Fish oil from new zealand ferrezi black omega 3