The first ever study on the intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnant women in New Zealand, has found only 30 per cent are getting the recommended daily amount. A cohort of 596 pregnant women, in their last trimester of pregnancy, volunteered to take part in the online study. Participants were required to complete a food frequency questionnaire, which was designed to investigate polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes over the last three months of their pregnancy. The study was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal today. Only 30 per cent were ingesting the international recommendations for DHA of 200mg per day.
The likely reason for the deficiency was the low intake of fish and seafood. “Women who are currently pregnant or planning to be should aim to eat a variety of healthy foods every day from each of the four food groups to get all the nutrients they need to protect the long-term health of both themselves and their baby. Those who have any concerns related to their diet should seek advice from their doctor, registered nutritionist or dietitian.”
Read more at: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-09-pregnant-women-omega-.html