Omega-3 supplements could put pregnancy at risk without proper testing

Expectant mothers are being warned that taking omega-3 supplements without proper testing could put their pregnancy at risk, according to Australian health experts.

The warning comes as researchers reveal that unless women have been diagnosed with an omega-3 deficiency, supplementation could actually increase the likelihood of preterm birth.

Amy Christie, who is 36 weeks pregnant with her first child, discovered she was among the 17 per cent of expectant mothers with an omega-3 deficiency after being tested by her GP.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting my baby. It’s actually kicking right now for us,” Christie said.

“In the beginning, she visited her GP. They offered me all these tests and I just said yes to all of them.”

The deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of preterm birth, which researchers say is “the biggest cause of death and disability in children under five years of age.”

“We found that by giving these women omega-3 supplements, we could actually reduce that risk quite substantially,” said Karen Best of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

A test-and-treat program was launched four years ago in South Australia, with 32,000 women assessed since its introduction.

“Before our program, there was no way that women could actually tell if they were low,” Best said.

For Christie, the testing could prove crucial. “For me, it could have stopped my baby from being preterm.”

However, experts stress that only women who test low should supplement, as too much omega-3 can be equally harmful.

“That can actually increase their risk of preterm birth,” Best warned.

The program is now set to be rolled out across the country, with the ultimate goal of offering free omega-3 testing to pregnant women worldwide.

“We are getting a lot of interest, actually, from our international colleagues who are contacting us to see, you know, what we’ve done, how we’ve done it,” Best said.