Study shows DHA can reduce early preterm births
Every year, approximately 15 million babies are born preterm, before 37 weeks of gestation, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Preterm complications are the leading cause of death among children under five years old and are responsible for about 1 million deaths in 2015.
Researchers have been working to find ways to prevent preterm births and reduce the likelihood of infants dying at a young age. Scientists now suggest that supplementing with more docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may lead to a reduction in the risk of preterm birth.
In the study published in the journal
EClinical Medicine, a dose of 1000 mg of DHA may reduce early preterm births significantly compared to 200 mg as found in some prenatal supplements.
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Early preterm births may be dramatically decreased with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplements, with a dose of 1000 mg more effective for pregnant women with low DHA levels than the 200 mg found in some prenatal supplements, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Kansas and the University of Cincinnati and published today in
EClinicalMedicine, a clinical journal of The Lancet. Early preterm birth, defined as birth before 34 weeks gestation, is a serious public health issue because these births result in the highest risk of infant mortality and child disability. This study tells us that pregnant women should be taking DHA, said Susan E. Carlson, Ph.D., professor of nutrition in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition in the KU School of Health Professions, co-principal investigator and first author on the study. And many would benefit from a higher amount than in some prenatal supplements, particularly if they are not already taking a prenata