Omega-3 supplementation in addition to prenatal vitamins during pregnancy is associated with lower rates of preterm birth and small for gestational age

TL;DR

Adding omega-3 supplements to prenatal vitamins during pregnancy may lower the risk of preterm birth and small for gestational age babies, according to a study.

Contribution

This study is the first to examine omega-3 supplementation in combination with prenatal vitamins, revealing potential additive benefits.

Findings

PNV-OM use was linked to a 39.9% lower risk of preterm birth compared to prenatal vitamins alone.

PNV-OM use was associated with a 36.7% lower risk of small for gestational age births.

Findings remained significant after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids and prenatal vitamins support fetal growth, but most studies assess omega-3 supplementation without accounting for baseline prenatal vitamin use during pregnancy. In this secondary analysis, we obtained data from the large, prospective Nulliparous Mother-to-be (nuMoM2b) cohort study of 9,461 nulliparous individuals. Participants were enrolled through eight clinical sites across the United States. We compared adverse birth outcomes between those taking additional omega-3 supplements beyond standard prenatal vitamin intake (PNV-OM) vs. prenatal vitamins alone (PNV). PNV-OM intake was associated with significantly lower rates of preterm birth (5.04 vs. 8.41%, P < 0.001) and SGA (2.84 vs. 4.48%, P = 0.004). After adjustment for demographic and clinical differences, PNV-OM use remained associated with reduced odds of preterm birth (aOR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47–0.86, P = 0.004) and SGA (aOR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.42–0.95, P = 0.03). However, given substantial socioeconomic differences between groups and the potential for residual confounding, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Supplemental omega-3 intake during pregnancy may provide an additive benefit beyond prenatal vitamins alone, but randomized trials are needed to determine whether this relationship is causal.