Impact of omega-3 fatty acid during pregnancy and risk reduction for preterm delivery

Preterm labor accounts for more than 85% of perinatal morbidity, frequently requiring intensive care and presenting complications that can have consequences throughout the individual's life. More than half of preterm delivery cases have unknown causes and therefore no clear preventable etiology. From observation in epidemiological studies that demonstrated longer pregnancies in populations with high consumption of marine oils, attempts have been made to define the benefit of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) prevention in premature childbirth through randomized clinical trials, as well as its preventive value. This review discusses the relationship between prenatal supplementation of n-3 long chain PUFA during pregnancy and the incidence of preterm delivery.