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OTC Prenatal Vitamins With DHA

Jul 13, 2011 | By Beatrice Corazon
OTC Prenatal Vitamins With DHA
Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

Women trying to get pregnant or who are pregnant might consider prenatal vitamins to ensure that they are getting all the right nutrients to give birth to a healthy baby. There are different kinds of prenatal vitamins available both as a prescription and over-the-counter. In addition to the typical nutrients, like folic acid, in prenatal vitamins, some might also contain DHA. But what is DHA and how can it benefit mother and baby?

DHA

DHA (short for docosahexaenoic acid) is a type of omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fatty acids are important fats that your body needs to function correctly, such as brain and behavioral functioning. Omega-3 fatty acids are usually found in foods like salmon, tuna, halibut, nuts, and some plants.

DHA Benefits for Mother and Child

You may have heard of claims that consuming DHA during pregnancy aids in the early development of the nervous system and vision in a baby, as well as reducing a baby's risk of allergies. Or that taking DHA during pregnancy may lower the risk of pre-term labor and delivery, high blood pressure, miscarriage and postpartum depression. Also babies whose mothers took DHA may tend to have a higher birth weight and gestational weight, as well as higher IQs.

Questioning DHA's Benefits

Despite the benefits that some researchers claim DHA provides during pregnancy, there is still some uncertainty as to whether DHA supplementation is helpful. For instance, one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that DHA may not be helpful in warding off postpartum depression in mothers nor improving language and cognitive development in children. The double-blind, randomized study (meaning neither participant nor researcher were aware of the type of supplement given) followed 2,399 pregnant women. Some were given fish oil capsules containing DHA, while others were given capsules containing vegetable oil. Researchers found that the percentage of women with postpartum depression did not differ between the group given the DHA-containing capsules and the group given vegetable capsules. Also neither cognitive nor language development appeared to improve in children whose mothers took the DHA capsules.

However, two studies did find that DHA supplementation benefited birth size of babies born to women giving birth for the first time. The study, which took place in Cuernavaca, Mexico, found that supplementation of 400 milligrams a day of algal DHA resulted in increased birth weight and head size.

The Right Dose of DHA

Although omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish like salmon, cod, and tuna, women who are pregnant should not eat fish on a daily basis due to potentially high mercury content. Instead, supplements, like prenatal vitamins containing DHA are advised.

Talk with your doctor before taking DHA, prenatal vitamins or any supplement. If your doctor advises you to take a prenatal vitamin with DHA, make sure you follow all the dosage instructions on the label. The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids suggests that the adequate minimum intake of DHA and EPA (another type of omega-3 fatty acid) for adults is 500 milligrams per day. For pregnant and lactating women, the minimum DHA intake is 300 milligrams per day. But again, talk with your doctor to find out the right dosage for you.

References

Article reviewed by V. Mac Last updated on: Jul 13, 2011

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