Something I am committed to with this work is making sure that every mother out there who plans to get pregnant or who is pregnant understands, is that they need marine oils in their diet. I don't care if you get them from algae, I don't care if you get them from fish…I care that you get them.
We've gone so overboard in steering women away from fish that we're creating more problems than we're solving.
Our brains and nervous systems are in large part made of marine oils. When pregnant, especially in the final trimester, a significant percentage of those oils are given to our developing babies. That is the time during pregnancy when the brain and nervous system develop. In one study, between the 28th week and delivery, blood DHA levels were measured and found to decrease. It didn't matter if the baby was born prematurely, to term, or late, the trend persisted. It happened even in women who were eating what they considered to be a lot of fish.
It bothers me greatly that a population that may actually need to be supplemented with fish…is encouraged to stay away from the very nutrient they need larger quantities of. And then we wonder why problems such as autism are epidemic.
I am hoping that the pregnant and future pregnant readers of this blog use this information to their benefit, and share it with anyone who could use it. We just aren't making sense with our recommendations when it comes to this crucial nutrient.
Bonham MP, Duffy EM, Wallace JM, Robson PJ, Myers GJ, Davidson PW, Clarkson TW, Shamlaye CF, Strain JJ. Habitual fish consumption does not prevent a decrease in LCPUFA status in pregnant women (the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study). Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2008 Jun;78(6):343-350. Epub 2008 Jun 26.