For Healthcare Professionals Only
Prenatal vitamins are widely recommended during pregnancy, yet one important nutrient is often missing from standard formulations: Omega 3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA.
The Role of Omega 3 in Pregnancy
These long-chain fatty acids play an essential role in fetal brain and eye development, and growing evidence suggests they may also influence pregnancy outcomes. However, because most prenatal supplements do not contain meaningful amounts of Omega 3 and many women do not consume sufficient oily fish, intake is frequently below recommended levels.
New Research on Omega 3 and Birth Outcomes
A recent analysis published in Frontiers in Nutrition examined whether taking an Omega 3 supplement alongside a prenatal vitamin was associated with improved pregnancy outcomes compared with taking a prenatal vitamin alone.
The researchers analysed data from a large US prospective cohort of 9,461 women with singleton pregnancies. Participants were divided into two groups:
- Prenatal vitamin only
- Prenatal vitamin plus an Omega 3 supplement
How Omega 3 Supports Pregnancy Health
The findings were notable. Compared with prenatal vitamins alone, women taking prenatal vitamins plus Omega 3 supplementation had:
- 36% lower adjusted odds of preterm birth
- 36% lower adjusted odds of having a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) baby
These findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting that Omega 3 intake during pregnancy may support healthier pregnancy outcomes.
Supporting Omega 3 Intake in Pregnancy
For healthcare professionals supporting patients during pregnancy, these findings reinforce the importance of assessing Omega 3 intake alongside prenatal vitamin use.
Because many prenatal vitamins do not contain DHA or EPA, a separate Omega 3 supplement is often required to help patients meet recommended intake levels.
Proceive Pregnancy Omega 3 provides a high-quality source of DHA and EPA designed to support maternal nutrition and fetal development throughout pregnancy.
Ensuring adequate Omega 3 intake during pregnancy may therefore represent a simple yet important nutritional strategy to support optimal maternal and infant outcomes.
Reference:
Smith, A.D., Johnson, R., Lee, S., Patel, R., Hernandez, M. and Williams, M. (2025) ‘Omega-3 supplementation in addition to prenatal vitamin use and risk of adverse birth outcomes in a prospective US cohort’, Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1693844. PMID: 41567325. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41567325/
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is Omega 3 important during pregnancy?
Omega 3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA, support fetal brain and eye development and may influence overall pregnancy outcomes.
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What did the recent research study on Omega 3 find?
A large US cohort study found that combining Omega 3 with prenatal vitamins was associated with 36% lower odds of preterm birth and 36% lower odds of having a small-for-gestational-age baby.
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Do standard prenatal vitamins contain Omega 3?
Most prenatal vitamins do not include DHA or EPA, meaning a separate Omega 3 supplement is often needed to support adequate intake.
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How can pregnant women ensure they are getting enough Omega 3?
Because many women do not consume enough oily fish, adding a dedicated Omega 3 supplement can help meet recommended levels during pregnancy.
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What type of Omega 3 supplement supports pregnancy?
Products that provide high-quality DHA and EPA, such as Proceive Pregnancy Omega 3, offer nutritional support for maternal health and fetal development.
