Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy

Gal Dubnov-Raz MD MSC, Yaron Finkelstein MD, Gideon Koren MD FRCPC

May 2007

ABSTRACT

QUESTION

Several pregnant patients have asked recently whether media reports of children’s intelligence quotients’ increasing with increased intake of essential fatty acids are meaningful enough to be worth the effort of supplementation. What advice should they be given?

ANSWER

Existing evidence from interventional studies is sparse and conflicting and should not lead to supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids.

QUESTION

Quelques patientes enceintes m’ont demandé récemment si les rapports médiatiques à l’effet que le quotient intellectuel des enfants augmentait avec un apport accru en acides gras essentiels étaient assez significatifs pour justifier de prendre un supplément. Quels conseils faut-il leur donner?

RÉPONSE

Les données scientifiques actuelles tirées d’études interventionnelles sont plutôt rares et contradictoires et ne sont pas suffisantes pour recommander un supplément d’acides gras essentiels.

[full story]

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