Health: Low plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids with/Story: A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider

Health Corner: Low plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids associated with preterm birth  Pregnant women who had low plasma levels of long ardhain n-3 fatty acids in their first and second trimesters were at a significantly higher risk of early preterm birth when compared with women who had higher levels of these fatty acids, according to new research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen. The study suggests that low concentrations of certain long chain fatty acids—eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA)—may be a strong risk factor for preterm birth. “At a time when many pregnant women are hearing messages encouraging them to avoid intake of fish altogether due to mercury content, our results support the importance of ensuring adequate intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids in pregnancy. Consumers should consult the guidance issued last year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency to make informed choices about the best types of fish to consume and avoid in pregnancy,” said lead author Sjurdur F. Olsen, adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School and head of the Centre for Fetal Programming at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark. The study was published online August 3, 2018, in EBioMedicine. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/fish-oil-supplements-pregnancy Story: A Boy, a Mouse, and a Spider. By Barbara Herkert