# Enriched marine oil supplements in pregnancy for the modulation of maternal inflammatory- associated causes of preterm delivery

## TL;DR

This review explores how enriched marine oil supplements during pregnancy may help reduce inflammation-related complications like preterm birth and pre-eclampsia.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the novel potential of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) from marine oils to modulate inflammation in obstetrics.

## Key findings

- Omega-3 PUFAs may improve pregnancy outcomes by reducing inflammation.
- SPMs derived from marine oils can resolve inflammation through mechanisms like phagocytosis and cytokine downregulation.
- SPM supplementation shows promise in preventing obstetric complications like preterm birth.

## Abstract

Preterm birth is a major cause of perinatal complications and neonatal deaths. Furthermore, in the field of obstetrics many clinical entities like uterine contractions or the occurrence of pre- eclampsia remain to be serious complications during pregnancy and represent a major psychological, financial, and economic burden for society. Several published guidelines, studies and recommendations have highlighted the importance of supplementation of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy. This narrative review aims at giving an overview on the modern perception of inflammatory processes and the role of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in their resolution, especially in obstetrics. Additionally, we highlight the possible role of SPMs in the prevention of obstetric complications through oral supplementation using enriched marine oil nutritional’s. The intake of PUFAs may result in an overall improvement of pregnancy outcomes by contributing to fetal brain growth and neurological development but more importantly though modulation of inflammation-associated pathologies. Especially the use of SPMs represents a promising approach for the management of obstetric and perinatal complications. SPMs are monohydroxylates derived from enriched marine oil nutritional’s that involve certain pro-resolutive metabolites of omega-3 long chains PUFAs and may contribute to an attenuation of inflammatory diseases. This may be obtained through various mechanisms necessary for a proper resolution of inflammation such as the termination of neutrophil tissue infiltration, initiation of phagocytosis, downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines or tissue regeneration. In this way, acute and chronic inflammatory diseases associated with serious obstetrical complications can be modulated, which might contribute to an improved pregnancy outcome.

Obstetric and perinatal complications such as preterm birth or pre-eclampsia represent a serious clinical issue. The supplementation of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy might have the potential to improve pregnancy outcomes by modulation of inflammatory processes. Specifically, the use of selective pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), including monohydroxylates derived from omega-3 long chain PUFAs, can potentially modulate acute and chronic diseases, particularly in obstetrics. Enriched marine oil nutritional’s containing SPMs might therefore aid in the resolution of inflammation and potentially improve pregnancy outcomes. This narrative review provides a summary of the current understanding of inflammatory processes and the importance of SPMs in resolution of inflammation, with a focus on obstetrics.