Omega 3 intake by mothers may not benefit brain development of preterm infants

Researchers have found that Among breastfed preterm infants born before 29 weeks of gestation, maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during the neonatal period may not benefit brain development at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age compared with placebo.

Consumption of DHA supplements, an omega-3 fatty acid, by breastfeeding mothers is ineffective in preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants born before the 29th week of pregnancy. This is the main conclusion of a Canada-wide study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Studies in the past have found that getting enough omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and early life is crucial for child's development. Supplementing omega3 is linked to higher intelligence and a lower risk of several diseases.

"Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that affects half of preterm infants, causing significant breathing difficulties that can make them become dependent on ventilators and oxygen for months," explained the study's lead author, Dr. Isabelle Marc, pediatrician, professor at the Université Laval Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre. "Babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia are at greater risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities, respiratory issues, and, in rare cases, death."