 |
| image credit: healthymummy.com |
"Researchers from the University of Auckland-based Liggins Institute are seeking pregnant women in the upper BMI range to join the clinical trial, which will investigate whether fish oil supplements taken during pregnancy could help prevent children from developing weight problems and related issues such as diabetes later in life.
Study lead Dr. Ben Albert says: "We already know that if you carry extra weight while you are pregnant, your child is more likely to develop weight problems and diabetes as they grow up.
"Women who are pregnant try incredibly hard to improve their health to give their baby the best start. But what should they do? Is there something simple they could take? Our previous work suggests fish oil may be protective for the developing baby."
Half of the 160 women in the new trial will take fish oil capsules during pregnancy and for three months after birth while the rest take placebo (olive oil) capsules.
Women who are less than 16 weeks pregnant, aged 18-40 and with a BMI of 30—45 can participate in the trial. The goal is for a third of participants to be Māori and another third Pacific women.
"We know that Māori and Pacific women are affected by weight problems even more than other New Zealanders, so it's really important they're part of this study," says Dr. Albert, who is a Research Fellow at the Institute and paediatrician at Starship Hospital.
Dr. Albert has led a series of studies into the health effects of fish oil supplements. In a study published last year, his team found that fresh fish oil given to overweight pregnant rats prevented their offspring from developing a major diabetes risk factor. Other evidence suggests omega 3 fatty acids in fresh fish oil improve the way insulin works, which protects against diabetes and related diseases.
But Dr. Albert is not advising mothers-to-be to take fish oil supplements until they can be confident the supplements they buy are fresh. In an earlier study, his team tested samples of 36 fish oil capsule brands sold in New Zealand and found that most – 83 percent – were rancid, oxidised beyond international recommended levels.
How "off" they were had nothing to do with best-before date, price, or the country they came from.
And when the researchers fed highly oxidised fish oil to pregnant rats in a later experiment, a third of their pups died..."
Learn more:
Study lead Dr. Ben Albert says: "We already know that if you carry extra weight while you are pregnant, your child is more likely to develop weight problems and diabetes as they grow up.
"Women who are pregnant try incredibly hard to improve their health to give their baby the best start. But what should they do? Is there something simple they could take? Our previous work suggests fish oil may be protective for the developing baby."
Half of the 160 women in the new trial will take fish oil capsules during pregnancy and for three months after birth while the rest take placebo (olive oil) capsules.
Women who are less than 16 weeks pregnant, aged 18-40 and with a BMI of 30—45 can participate in the trial. The goal is for a third of participants to be Māori and another third Pacific women.
"We know that Māori and Pacific women are affected by weight problems even more than other New Zealanders, so it's really important they're part of this study," says Dr. Albert, who is a Research Fellow at the Institute and paediatrician at Starship Hospital.
Dr. Albert has led a series of studies into the health effects of fish oil supplements. In a study published last year, his team found that fresh fish oil given to overweight pregnant rats prevented their offspring from developing a major diabetes risk factor. Other evidence suggests omega 3 fatty acids in fresh fish oil improve the way insulin works, which protects against diabetes and related diseases.
But Dr. Albert is not advising mothers-to-be to take fish oil supplements until they can be confident the supplements they buy are fresh. In an earlier study, his team tested samples of 36 fish oil capsule brands sold in New Zealand and found that most – 83 percent – were rancid, oxidised beyond international recommended levels.
How "off" they were had nothing to do with best-before date, price, or the country they came from.
And when the researchers fed highly oxidised fish oil to pregnant rats in a later experiment, a third of their pups died..."
Learn more:
No comments:
Post a Comment