Ellen A. Tryggvadóttir¹

Þórhallur I. Halldórsson¹

Bryndís E. Birgisdóttir¹

Laufey Hrólfsdóttir^1,2

Rikard Landberg³

Ingibjörg Th. Hreiðarsdóttir^4,5

Hildur Harðardóttir^5,6

Ingibjörg Gunnarsdóttir^1,7

 

¹Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali University Hospital and Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland, ²Institution of Health Science Research, University of Akureyri and Akureyri Hospital, ³Division of Food and Nutrition Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg-Sweden, ⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland, ⁵Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland Reykjavík, Iceland, ⁶Livio Reykjavík, Reproductive Center in Reykjavík, Iceland ⁷Landspitali University hospital; Nutrition Department.

Correspondence: Ellen Alma Tryggvadóttir, eat2@hi.is,

Key words: Pregnancy, diet, fatty acids, biomarker, supplements.

INTRODUCTION: Long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are considered important for fetal development, but previous studies suggest suboptimal intake in part of pregnant women in Iceland. The study aim was to evaluate intake of food and supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, among pregnant women in Iceland and correlations to fatty acid composition in plasma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 853 pregnant women attending their 11-14 weeks ultrasound appointment. Information on intake of food and supplements containing long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) as well as background was obtained by a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for analysis of plasma fatty acids. Correlation was evaluated using the Spearman correlation.

RESULTS: Median intake of lean fish was 1.3 times per week, while fatty fish was consumed once monthly. About 50% of the women took omega-3 containing supplements daily. Higher intake of both fish and omega-3 containing supplements was reflected in higher omega-3 plasma levels (r=0.37 p<0.001). A positive correlation was seen between intake of cod liver oil/capsules (r=0.23, p=0.001), omega-3 oil/capsules (r=0.20, p=0.001) and plasma concentration of omega-3. However, no correlation was seen between intake of a maternal multivitamin containing omega-3 and corresponding plasma concentration (r=0.03, p=0.98).

CONCLUSION: Intake of food and supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids was reflected in plasma concentration, except for an Icelandic maternal multivitamin. One third of the women followed the recommendation of eating fish at least twice weekly. About 50% had a daily intake of supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Table I. Characteristics of the women in PREWICE II. Data is presented as means ± std. deviation or ratios. Fatty acid data are presented as medians and percentiles (10-90).

Table II. FFQ reported weekly intake of foods at 11th - 14th week of pregnancy and correlations¹ with total (μg/ml) and relative (%) EPA and DHA concentrations. Data presented as medians and percentiles (10th-90th).

Table III. Total and relative concentrations of EPA + DHA stratified by intake frequency for fish. Data presented as frequency and rates as well as medians and percentiles (10th-90th).

Table IV. Median and relative values of EPA and DHA for women taking different omega-3 supplements daily or more compared to those taking them less then daily or never.

Table V. The amount of EPA and DHA provided by the most used omega-3 supplements in Iceland according to information on the package.¹

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