Effect of reducing the n-6:n-3 long-chain PUFA ratio during pregnancy and lactation on infant adipose tissue growth within the first year of life: an open-label randomized controlled trial.

Study answer

What this study found

The intervention did not measurably reduce infant adipose tissue growth or fat mass during the first year of life. At 4 months postpartum, the sum of 4 skinfolds was 25.3 +/- 4.1 mm in the intervention group versus 25.2 +/- 4.3 mm in controls, with a mean difference of 0.1 (95% CI -1.2, 1.2); at 1 year, values were 24.1 +/- 4.4 mm versus 24.1 +/- 4.1 mm, with a mean difference of 20.0 mm (95% CI 21.3, 1.3 mm). Ultrasonography also showed no significant between-group differences at 6 weeks, 4 months, or 12 months, and no side effects of the intervention were observed. Any early differences in…

Study & population

Open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in healthy pregnant women in early gestation at a single center in Munich, Germany.

Intervention

Pregnant participants in the active arm received oral fish-oil capsules providing 1200 mg/day n-3 long-chain PUFA from the 15th week of gestation to 4 months postpartum, including 1020 mg DHA and 180 mg EPA plus 9 mg vitamin E daily.

Key limitation

Open-label design and a single-center, relatively homogeneous cohort of healthy, well-educated white women limit generalizability.

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Original abstract