Recommended Omega-3 Supplementation Doses in Prenatal Care

Pregnant women should consume at least 300 mg of DHA daily through diet or supplements to support optimal fetal development. 1, 2

Recommended Dosages

Pregnant women should consume a minimum of 200-300 mg of DHA daily, with a total of at least 300 mg combined DHA+EPA 2
For women with low omega-3 levels or at risk of preterm birth, a higher supplementation of approximately 1000 mg of combined DHA+EPA is recommended, preferably starting before 20 weeks' gestation 3
For pregnant women with depression, higher doses may be beneficial - one study showed efficacy with 2.2 g/day EPA and 1.2 g/day DHA 1
During lactation, an additional 100-200 mg of preformed DHA should be added to compensate for oxidative losses of maternal DHA and accumulation in the infant 1

DHA is essential for fetal brain and retinal development, making up approximately 25% of total fatty acids in the human cerebral cortex 1, 2
Adequate omega-3 intake is associated with improved language, memory, attention, hand-eye coordination, and visual acuity in offspring 2
Omega-3 supplementation can reduce the risk of preterm birth, particularly in women with low baseline omega-3 levels 3
Infants born to mothers supplemented with DHA showed better mental processing scores, stereopsis, and stereoacuity at 4 years of age 1

Fish consumption of 8-12 ounces/week from a variety of seafood types is recommended 1, 2
Pregnant women should avoid high-mercury fish including tilefish, shark, swordfish, and king mackerel; white (albacore) tuna should be limited to 6 ounces/week 1, 2
For women who don't consume fish, alternatives include purified fish oil supplements, algal oil supplements (plant-based), and DHA-enriched eggs 2, 4
When selecting supplements, choose products with added antioxidants (including vitamin E) to prevent oxidation 2

Omega-3 supplements during pregnancy are generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects 2
Potential minor side effects may include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (dysgeusia, eructation, nausea) 1, 2
- Dermatological reactions (skin eruption, itchiness) 1, 2
- Biochemical changes (higher LDL-C, fasting blood sugar) 1, 2
For women taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications, monitoring of coagulation parameters is warranted 1, 2

Store omega-3 supplements in airtight, dark containers to protect from light 1, 2
Refrigerate supplements after opening to prevent oxidation 1, 2
Choose products with added antioxidants when possible 1, 2

Commercial prenatal supplements contain widely varying omega-3 levels (average 368 mg in US, 404 mg in Canada) 5
Only 70% of US products and 61% of Canadian products contain adequate omega-3 levels for pregnant women with sufficient baseline intake 5
Only 16% of US products and 28% of Canadian products contain adequate omega-3 for pregnant women with insufficient baseline intake 5