The Effect of Omega 3 on Pregnancy Complicated by Asymmetrical Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Intrauterine growth restriction is a common and complex obstetric problem. Intrauterine
growth restriction is noted to affect approximately 10-15 % of pregnant women. Intrauterine
growth restriction is diagnosed antenatal; however, some of these fetuses, especially if
unscreened during pregnancy, may be detected only in the neonatal period. It is very
important for obstetricians and perinatologists to identify growth restricted fetuses,
because this fetal condition is associated with significant perinatal morbidity and
mortality.
Omega 3 is composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a double bond at the third carbon
atom from the end of the carbon chain. The fatty acids have two ends, the carboxylic acid
end, which is considered the beginning of the chain, thus "alpha", and the methyl end, which
is considered the "tail" of the chain, thus "omega." Omega3 improve fetal wellbeing by two
mechanisms: Firstly, maternal and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and
lactation normalizes intrauterine growth restriction induced changes in adipose deposition
and visceral PPARĪ³ expression. Secondly, maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation
increases serum adiponectin, as well as adipose expression of adiponectin and adiponectin
receptors. Novel findings suggest that maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation
normalize adipose dysfunction and promote adiponectin-induced improvements in metabolic
function in intrauterine growth restriction