Benefits of DHA for Pregnant Mum and Foetus

Learn what DHA really is and why it is particularly important during pregnancy and throughout lactation

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a type of omega-3 fatty acids, alongside alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).^1,2 ALA is the parent fatty acid of the omega-3 family which is then converted to EPA, then on to DHA.^1,3,4

Conversion Process of ALA to EPA to DHA

Conversion process of ALA to EPA then to finally DHA

DHA is one of the most biologically active omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.¹ It is available in either active form (i.e. from diet rich in DHA e.g. fish or foods fortified with DHA) or formed through the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA.⁴ Generally, the active form of DHA is better than the converted form because:

Conversion of ALA to DHA is limited as most of the dietary ALA undergoes oxidation process (splitting of the long ALA chains into smaller fragments) in the cells and only a limited amount is converted to EPA and DHA⁴
It has been shown that higher intake of ALA during pregnancy does not cause significant rise in DHA in the blood^4,5

Important health benefits of DHA for pregnant/lactating women

Adequate consumption of DHA in pregnant and lactating women is important as DHA is a critical component for the developing the foetus’ cell membranes, particularly in the brain and retina.^1,3,6 DHA supplementation is also associated with lower incidence of pre-term labour and delivery, lower risk of preeclampsia, increase in birth weight and reduction in postpartum depression incidences.^7,8

DHA requirements are increased over normal during pregnancy to support foetal growth; especially in the third trimester.^1,8 This is due to increased maternal blood volume and enhanced placental and foetal DHA requirements.^1,8,9 Pregnant women become depleted in DHA because the foetus utilises most of the DHA for its nervous system development and obtains about 67 mg/day of DHA from the mother.^7,10 During lactation, the mother’s body transfers 70 to 80 mg of DHA daily through breast milk.¹⁰ The high requirement of DHA during pregnancy and lactation diminishes maternal DHA stores to below pre-pregnancy levels.¹⁰ Therefore, the Ministry of Health Malaysia suggests a DHA intake of 200 mg/day for pregnant mothers in order to meet the DHA demands.⁶

Why is DHA supplement important for the foetus?

DHA is an essential building block for foetal brain development especially during the third trimester where the foetus’ brain undergoes ‘brain growth spurt’ or a period of rapid brain growth.^3,10 Brain accumulation of DHA starts as early as the second half of gestation period.^3,10

DHA is also a vital component and the essential fatty acids of the eyes, comprising 93% of all omega-3 fatty acids in the retina; suggesting its relevance in eye health and visual development.^2,3,10

How to get Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)?

Listed below are the dietary sources of DHA:

Fish (e.g. salmon, tuna, sardines, catfish, pollack,anchovies and herring)_^6,7,11
Algae-derived marine oils_¹¹
Eggs fortified with DHA¹²

Although fish are an important source of omega-3 fatty acids, it is advisable to limit the intake of certain types of fish (e.g. shark, tilefish, king mackerel and swordfish) as they may be potentially contaminated with methyl mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls or other toxins that can be dangerous to the foetus’ brain development.^1,7,11 The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend limiting fish consumption to 2 servings (340 g seafood) per week for pregnant women.¹

What is the expert recommendation?

Listed below are some of the expert recommendations on DHA intake in pregnant and lactating women:

The Ministry of Health Malaysia suggests a DHA intake of 200 mg/day for pregnant mothers⁶
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recommends a minimum intake of 300 mg EPA+DHA per day of which at least 200 mg/day should be DHA for adult pregnant and lactating females⁷
The Perinatal Lipid Nutrition Project (PeriLip) and The Early Nutrition Programming Project (EARNEST) in collaboration with several international scientific societies suggest an intake of at least 200 mg/day DHA for pregnant and breastfeeding women³
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends a 250 mg of EPA plus DHA intake daily (of which 100 to 200 mg should be DHA)⁸

Is there enough DHA in the diet?

In general, research has shown that the average daily intake of the omega-3 fatty acids (ALA + EPA + DHA) amongst the average Malaysian adults are far from desirable.^6,13 Among pregnant Malaysian women, the mean intake of omega-3 was 0.24% kcal (Recommended Nutrient Intake; RNI = 0.45% kcal).¹³ Unsatisfactory omega-3 nutrition was also reported in lactating women i.e. 0.33% kcal as compared to the recommended 0.50% kcal.¹³

Research statistic of intakes of Omega-3 compared to RNI

If mum eats fish, does she still need DHA supplementation?

The FDA recommends that women who are pregnant and lactating consume 2 servings (340 g seafood) of fish per week.^1,3,14 Nevertheless, even if you eat fish twice a week, you may not be getting the recommended levels of DHA. This is because the content of DHA varies among different fish species.^15,16 In Malaysia, the most consumed fish are the Indian mackerel, anchovies and scad.⁶ However, these fish species contain low DHA levels as compared to salmon, herring, shad or bluefin tuna.^15,16

Alternatively, DHA like fish oil supplementation makes it easier to monitor your DHA intake to ensure that you are getting adequate DHA levels each day.¹⁷ However, if you are taking blood thinners, talk to your doctor before taking DHA supplementation, like fish oil, because it may lower blood pressure.

How early should you start taking DHA supplementation?

As DHA is crucial throughout pregnancy and during lactation; especially for brain development, it is advisable that women take maternal nutritional supplements (e.g. DHA supplements) before or at the onset of pregnancy.^2,10,18 This is to ensure that they have adequate nutrition stores so that pregnancy can start in a healthy state while reducing pregnancy complications.^10,19

What happens if mum is facing DHA deficiency?

If a mother faces DHA deficiency, it can be associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, unipolar depression, aggressive hostility, and adrenoleukodystrophy.²⁰ Therefore, taking fish oil supplements or other dietary supplements can help prevent these issues

Article contributed by Dato’ Dr Siti Zaliha, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

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