*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Omega Natal is a fish oil
concentrate high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid
found in high concentrations in the brain and retina. Supplementation
with Omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation is beneficial
for the health of both the child and the mother. Omega-3 fatty acids,
and especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential for healthy
infant development both before and after birth.
The Importance of DHA during Pregnancy and
Nursing
Fish lipids, particularly lipids
from cold-water fish are high in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids,
especially omega-3 fatty acids, of which DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a
major constituent. DHA is a 22-carbon chain containing 6 unsaturated
bonds all of which are in the cis configuration. DHA is an essential
part of cellular membranes, specifically in brain and retinal cells -
representing roughly 15% of the total fatty acid content of the brain
and constituting the predominant fatty acid in the retina. This makes
DHA especially important during pregnancy, a period of rapid fetal brain
development. Furthermore, around 80% of fetal DHA accumulation occurs
in the last trimester of pregnancy because this is when the fetus builds
up adipose tissue. Unfortunately, this leaves preterm babies without
the DHA needed for brain maturation and even 40 weeks post-conception,
brain DHA levels in preterm infants remain lower.
Because omega-6 and omega-3 share
the same metabolic enzymes and compete with each other, modification of
the fatty acid content of the diet also changes the fatty acid content
of cellular membranes, which in turns affects cellular function and
growth. Breast milk contains higher concentrations of long chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) than infant formulas. This may
explain why studies have shown that breast-fed infants have higher IQ’s
as early as six months after birth, with differences still present at 15
years of age, and also why studies have shown that breast-fed infants
have a better visual acuity prior to six months. Animal studies
demonstrated that inadequate omega-3 fatty acid supply in the postnatal
period affects nerve growth factors, dopamine production and glucose
uptake in the brain. Furthermore, brain hypothalamic DHA levels did not
recover in animals given alpha-linoleic acid (precursor to omega-3 fatty
acids) for 24 weeks after being fed low levels of omega 3.
During gestation, LCPUFA are
delivered to the fetus via the placenta. Human studies have confirmed
that higher maternal omega-3 fatty acid consumption may improve cerebral
maturation of the newborn and prevent the recurrence of preterm
delivery with fish oil supplementation in the last trimester of
pregnancy (providing 920 mg DHA and 1.3 g EPA) reducing recurrences from
33% to 21%.Low seafood consumption, which relates to poor omega-3 fatty
acid intakes, throughout pregnancy was also shown to be a strong risk
factor for preterm delivery and low birth weight. Associations between
maternal blood DHA levels and the baby’s sleep patterns were also
reported, suggesting that higher maternal blood DHA levels are
associated with greater central nervous system maturity in the newborn.
Epidemiological data suggests that higher consumption of omega-3 fatty
acids throughout pregnancy increases birth weight, head circumference,
birth length and the duration of gestation. Animal diets enriched in
omega 6 fatty acids and low in omega 3 fatty acids increased blood
pressure later on in life. The International Society for the Study of
Fatty Acids and Lipids recommends at least 300 mg DHA per day with a
total of at least 650 mg combined DHA and EPA during pregnancy. These
goals could only be reached in the United States through
supplementation, a four-fold increase in fish consumption or functional
foods. Furthermore, the concern for an increase in oxidative stress in
women given fish oil supplements (unsaturated oils are susceptible to
oxidation) has been disproved by Shoji et al. In their study, pregnant
women were given 500 mg DHA and 150 mg EPA fared no worse than women not
receiving the supplement.
Another interesting observation
was inspired by the notion that omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote
inflammation while omega-3 fatty acids exhibit anti-inflammatory
activity. In a recent study, scientists from three American
universities looked at the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid in
placental tissues of normal and preeclamptic women. DHA levels were
lower in preeclamptic women with a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty
acids roughly twice as high in preeclampsia versus normal pregnancy. The
same authors had previously reported lower omega-3 fatty acid
concentrations in preeclamptic maternal plasma. In other studies, a 15%
increase in the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio reduced the risk of
preeclampsia by 46%.
Researchers have reported a 21%
reduction of maternal brain DHA levels during animal gestation when
dietary supply of the essential fatty acid is low. Previous studies had
demonstrated that women with lower blood or breast milk DHA content
were more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. It had
previously been thought that brain DHA levels did not fluctuate because
the nutrient is eagerly preserved. The authors concluded that the high
ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the Western diet might be a
risk factor for postpartum depression.
Alcohol inhibits delta-6 and
delta-5 desaturases, which suppresses the conversion of linoleic acid
and gamma-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid (AA), DHA and EPA. Ethanol
also reduces the blood levels of linoleic acid. Alcohol consumption by
pregnant women therefore reduces the availability of essential fatty
acids to the developing fetus and may partially explain the
developmental deficits seen in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This also
explains why vitamin B3, necessary for delta-6 desaturase
activity, exerts neuroprotective activity in fetal alcohol syndrome.
Other
Benefits
DHA is also important for
cardiovascular health, and can help improve cholesterol balance, protect
the blood vessels from damage and regulate blood pressure levels. It
also has powerful anti-inflammatory effects, and is an important factor
for the maintenance of good health.
Purity
Omega Natal™ is a special
molecular distillate of fish oil that provides super concentrated
amounts of DHA along with EPA. This molecular distillation process
allows for the removal of heavy metals such as mercury, organochlorine
contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chemical
solvents, making it safe and effective for everyday use during
pregnancy. Omega Natal™ is also an uniquely stable fish oil, both
because of its pharmaceutical-quality, ultra-low peroxide value and
because of the unique blend of synergistic fat soluble antioxidants.
Studies show that stable fish oil has superior benefits as compared with
common commercial grades oils.
References
Fleith M, Clandinin MT. Dietary PUFA for preterm and term infants:
review of clinical studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2005;45(3):205-29.
Review.
Chong EW, Sinclair AJ, Guymer RH.
Facts on fats. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2006 Jul;34(5):464-71.
Clandinin MT, Chappell JE, Leong S, Heim T, Swyer PR, Chance GW. Intrauterine fatty acid accretion rates
in human brain: implications for fatty acid requirements. Early Hum Dev. 1980 Jun;4(2):121-9.
Clandinin MT. Brain development and assessing the
supply of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Lipids. 1999 Feb;34(2):131-7.
Lanting CI, Fidler V, Huisman M, Touwen BC, Boersma ER. Neurological differences between
9-year-old children fed breast-milk or formula-milk as babies. Lipids. 1999 Feb;34(2):151-60.
Olsen SF, Secher NJ. Low
consumption of seafood in early pregnancy as a risk factor for preterm
delivery: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2002 Feb 23;324(7335):447.
Weisinger HS, Armitage JA,
Sinclair AJ, Vingrys AJ, Burns PL, Weisinger RS. Perinatal omega-3 fatty
acid deficiency affects blood pressure later in life. Nat Med. 2001
Mar; 7(3):258-9.
Troxell H, Anderson J, Auld G,
Marx N, Harris M, Reece M, Allen K. Omega-3 for baby and me: material
development for a WIC intervention to increase DHA intake during
pregnancy. Matern Child Health J. 2005 Jun;9(2):189-97.
Wang YP, Kay HH, Killam AP. Decreased levels of polyunsaturated fatty
acids in preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Mar;164(3):812-8.
Dietary PUFA for
preterm and term infants: review of clinical studies
Fleith M, Clandinin MT. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.
2005;45(3):205-29. Review.
Human milk contains n-3 and n-6
LCPUFA (long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids), which are absent from
many infant formulas. During neonatal life, there is a rapid accretion
of AA (arachidonic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in infant brain,
DHA in retina and of AA in the whole body. The DHA status of breast-fed
infants is higher than that of formula-fed infants when formulas do not
contain LCPUFA. Studies report that visual acuity of breast-fed infants
is better than that of formula-fed infants, but other studies do not
find a difference. Cognitive development of breast-fed infants is
generally better, but many sociocultural confounding factors may also
contribute to these differences. The effect of dietary LCPUFA on FA
status, immune function, visual, cognitive, and motor functions has been
evaluated in preterm and term infants. Plasma and RBC FA status of
infants fed formulas supplemented with both n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA was
closer to the status of breast-fed infants than to that of infants fed
formulas containing no LCPUFA. Adding n-3 LCPUFA to preterm-infant
formulas led to initial beneficial effects on visual acuity. Few data
are available on cognitive function, but it seems that in preterm
infants, feeding n-3 LCPUFA improved visual attention and cognitive
development compared with infants receiving no LCPUFA. Term infants need
an exogenous supply of AA and DHA to achieve similar accretion of fatty
acid in plasma and RBC (red blood cell) in comparison to breast-fed
infants. Fewer than half of all studies have found beneficial effects of
LCPUFA on visual, mental, or psychomotor functions. Improved
developmental scores at 18 mo of age have been reported for infants fed
both AA and DHA. Growth, body weight, and anthropometrics of preterm and
term infants fed formulas providing both n-3 and n-6 LCPUFA fatty acids
is similar in most studies to that of infants fed formulas containing
no LCPUFA. A larger double-blind multicenter randomized study has
recently demonstrated improved growth and developmental scores in a
long-term feeding study of preterm infants. Collectively, the body of
literature suggests that LCPUFA is important to the growth and
development of infants. Thus, for preterm infants we recommend LCPUFA
intakes in the range provided by feeding of human milk typical of
mothers in Western countries. This range can be achieved by a
combination of AA and DHA, providing an AA to DHA ratio of approximately
1.5 and a DHA content of as much as 0.4%. Preterm infants may benefit
from slightly higher levels of these fatty acids than term infants. In
long-term studies, feeding more than 0.2% DHA and 0.3% AA improved the
status of these fatty acids for many weeks after DHA; AA was no longer
present in the formula, enabling a DHA and AA status more similar to
that of infants fed human milk. The addition of LCPUFA in infant
formulas for term infants, with appropriate regard for quantitative and
qualitative qualities, is safe and will enable the formula-fed infant to
achieve the same blood LCPUFA status as that of the breast-fed infant.
Intrauterine fatty acid
accretion rates in human brain: implications for fatty acid
requirements.
Clandinin MT, Chappell JE, Leong S, Heim T, Swyer PR, Chance GW. Early Hum Dev. 1980 Jun;4(2):121-9.
Fatty acid components of infant brain
were determined to assess fatty acid requirements for synthesis of
structural lipids in brain tissue during the last trimester of
development in the fetus. Quantitative fatty acid analysis of
cerebellum, frontal and occipital brain lobes indicated rapid accretion
of chain elongation and desaturation products during the last trimester
of brain growth. Frontal and occipital brain lobes were similar in fatty
acid content. Fatty acid accretion rates were determined by regression
analysis of tissue fat components at varying gestational ages. Tissue
accretion of saturated and omega-9 fatty acids, as well as total fatty
acid content, paralleled increases in whole brain weight. Levels of
linoleic (C18:2, omega-6) and linolenic (C18:3, omega-3) acids were
consistently low in brain during the last trimester of development,
while marked substantial accretion of long chain desaturation products,
arachidonic (C20:4, omega-6) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6, omega-3) acids
occurred. Accretion of individual fatty acids of cerebellum also
reflected changes in tissue total fatty acid content, with exception of
the levels of C18:3, omega-3 and its chain elongation products present
in cerebellum during the last trimester. These developmental changes and
estimates of fatty acid incorporation into whole brain and cerebellum
are quantitatively relevant to estimation of fatty acid requirements of
the low birth weight neonate.
Brain development and
assessing the supply of polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Clandinin MT. Lipids. 1999 Feb;34(2):131-7.
embrane lipids are necessary for
structure and function of the developing nervous system. Rapid synthesis
of brain tissue occurs during the last trimester of development of the
human brain and the early postnatal weeks. This synthesis of brain
structure involves the formation of complex lipids, many of which
contain significant quantities of chain-elongated desaturated homologs
of essential fatty acids. The present report discusses the implications
of change in nutritional status on processes of brain development and
metabolic events that involve lipids.
Omega-3 for baby and me:
material development for a WIC intervention to increase DHA intake
during pregnancy.
Troxell H, Anderson J, Auld
G, Marx N, Harris M, Reece M, Allen K. Matern Child Health J. 2005
Jun;9(2):189-97.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this
project was to develop educational materials for a Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program
intervention in Denver, Colorado. Despite accumulating evidence of the
importance of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy, there has
been no attempt to develop a targeted nutrition intervention to improve
birth outcomes among high-risk women. The goal of the Omega-3 for Baby
and Me intervention, for which these materials were developed, is to
increase the consumption of DHA-rich foods to decrease the risk for
premature delivery and low-birth weight babies among this population.
METHOD: Following collection of data from eight focus groups among the
target audience, the principles of the Health Belief Model were used to
develop materials to address the needs, barriers, and motivators of this
audience. In addition, process evaluation pilot testing was used to
evaluate recipes and logos during the material development. RESULTS:
Materials developed for this intervention include a logo, 9-month
calendar, stickers, shopping lists, recipes, recipe holder, magnetic
clip, nylon pouch, and recruitment materials. CONCLUSION: The use of
focus groups and pilot testing increased the target audience acceptance
of education materials that are being used for the Omega-3 for Baby and
Me intervention. Successful outcomes from the Omega-3 for Baby and Me
intervention, i.e., decreasing the incidence of preterm birth and
low-birth weight, will have implications for supplemental food policies
at state and national levels.
Decreased levels of
polyunsaturated fatty acids in preeclampsia.
Wang YP, Kay HH, Killam AP. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991
Mar;164(3):812-8.
Plasma levels of polyunsaturated
fatty acids in the n-3 and n-6 classes, which include linoleic,
linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids,
were quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography in
nonpregnant volunteers and in patients with normal pregnancies or
preeclampsia at term. The total polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were
not significantly different between nonpregnant and normal pregnant
patients but was significantly lower in the preeclamptic patients
compared with normal pregnant patients. This decreased level could
represent altered fatty acid metabolism or altered storage and
mobilization from lipid pools. Compared with nonpregnant patients,
normal pregnant patients had significantly higher levels of
eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. This may reflect normal
physiologic changes in pregnancy, and the decreased level of
eicosapentaenoic acid seen in preeclamptic patients may play a
significant role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.