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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Which Omega 3 suppliment is safe to take in Pregnancy

32 replies

HeinzSight · 04/01/2009 13:42

and how much?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RuDiegetheRedNosedReinDiege · 05/01/2009 21:34

Have had a bit of a google at the research study warning of vit E and seems it has to be taken in very high doses (250g) to be linked woth still birth etc..
Oh and while on subject of pregnacare I'm taking pregnacare plus which has the omega 3 supplements along with the regular pregnacare vits in the same box (it's the vits that have the vit E, not the omega supplement). Maybe an option?

Bahce · 05/01/2009 23:40

I think we need to avoid Vitamin A. And fish oils has valuable vitamin A like carrots has good Vitamin A. The liver and liver products that contains itamin A should be avoided.

You could read the details on Omega 3 and others in Food Standard Agencies website.

www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/fishandshellfish/?lang=en

H appy pregnancy.
Meltem

Lotster · 06/01/2009 12:15

MsG - hi there, (I'm no expert btw, but just have a keen interest in nutritional medicine) if you are a strict veggie and prefer not to take fish oils, then flaxseed is a good alternative. Again, Higher Nature do one here.

Although it's a good source of some omega-3 fatty acids, it doesn't contain the type of omega-3 fatty acid most often recommended for pregnant women (docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA), which the fish oil provides.

On Vitamin A, or specifically retinol which is the animal source, there's some interesting and confusing research out there.

Vitamin A has antioxidant and protective properties similar to those found in the mineral selenium, which can protect against cell mutation. It is essential for vision, building healthy cells in the gut and brain.

We're advised in this country to stay away from it, mainly because consuming it in extremely large doses can cause disability in the baby. But also deficiency during pregnancy can have devastating effects, and research has shown that for example, many autistic children are lacking in vitamin A.

Obviously this sort of info makes women swing from one extreme to the other, so personally I try to take a balanced view and include it from "safer" seeming sources.

From what I've read, the best sources of vitamin A are breast milk, organ meats, milk fat, and especially fish and cod liver oil, none of which are really prevalent in our diets. But also in eggs, butter and cheese which are obviously easier to include in a pregnancy diet.
The beta carotene version of Vitamin A (or bodies convert beta-carotene in to vitamin A, so again a good sourse if you want to stay away from retinol), is found in dark green leafy veg like spinach, and green and yellow fruits and veg like papaya, mango, pumkin, also carrots.

I'm in my third trimester and have stuck to what I did last time; eating a balanced diet, taking a good pre-natal vitamin (solgar) and a good omega 3 oil (higher nature).
I do know that cheaper and non-organic brand vitamins such as Pregnacare will use lower quality collating agents than more expensive brands like Solgar, which means the contents aren't as well absorbed in the body. Plus the better brands tend to use non-constipating forms of iron, rather than the cheaper iron sulphate you would get in Pregnacare etc. This is good for me as I suffer with getting bunged up in PG!

Hope I've not confused too much on the Vitamin A debate, but can definately say you get what you pay for as MrsMerryHenry said.

Lotster · 06/01/2009 12:18

Sorry that should say "(our bodies convert beta-carotene in to vitamin A, so again a good source if you want to stay away from retinol)"

MotherHenn · 16/08/2013 10:13

Quote: "Fish oil supplements may not be suitable for infants and small children because the brain doesn't need EPA and in trying to get DHA gets too much EPA. "

This is why I would avoid normal Omega 3 suppliments like Holland and Barrett's. And explains why Pregnacare has a very small amount of EPA compared to DHA.

Stevie77 · 16/08/2013 10:46

Thanks for the info Lotster, I took the Solgar Prenatal vits last time and am about to buy them again. I looked into the Higher Nature Omega 3 ones and they seem good, so thanks again for the recommendation Thanks

Michjeffers · 16/08/2013 11:12

I take Pregnacare plus which has a seperate Omega 3 capsule and my Midwife said that it is the best one to take x

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