DHA Supplement During Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Should Know

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Dear moms-to-be, did you know? Your developing baby needs DHA—an omega-3 fatty acid—for their brain & eye development. As your baby grows, so does their need for DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid. Hence, it becomes imperative to consume a diet that meets your DHA requirements. However, when dietary DHA falls short of fulfilling this growing demand, the doctors might recommend a DHA supplement.

This blog lists all the benefits that a DHA supplement may offer for you and your developing baby. So keep reading.

Why A DHA Supplement Is Essential For A Healthy Pregnancy

During pregnancy, DHA is important for the baby’s mental, neurological and visual development. A DHA deficiency during this period might lead to learning disabilities even later on in their lives. DHA supplementation also plays a beneficial role in preventing several pregnancy-related complications such as gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), preterm birth (before 37 weeks) and low birth weight in babies.

When To Take DHA Supplements During Pregnancy?

While the growing fetus needs DHA throughout the pregnancy, its need drastically increases in the third trimester. So supplementation of 200 mg DHA/day during this period prevents the decrease of maternal DHA levels.

Note: Always consult your doctor before taking any dietary supplements during pregnancy.

Other DHA Supplement Benefits

DHA supplementation has many other benefits for people who are pregnant or otherwise. These supplements:

1. Reduce Heart Attack Risk

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), DHA is essential for supporting a healthy heart. Together with the EPA, another heart-healthy omega-3, it helps to lower blood pressure in people with normal and increased blood pressure levels. DHA supplementation can also decrease the ‘bad fat’ and slightly increase the ‘good fat’ levels in the blood. Moreover, DHA prevents plaque buildup in the arteries and lowers the risk of sudden cardiac death.

2. Reduce Risk of Certain Cancers

DHA supplementation may be a promising approach to fighting cancer. DHA lowers the risk of several cancers by slowing down cancer cell growth, triggering cancer cell death, reducing stress and preventing tumours from spreading. Studies have shown that DHA can specifically help in ovarian cancer by stopping cancer cell growth and making chemotherapy more effective. DHA supplements are also helpful in reducing the side effects caused by chemotherapy.

3. Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

DHA is also helpful for slowing down the progression of age-related memory decline—a characteristic feature of dementia. Starting DHA supplementation early may also lower your risks of Alzheimer's disease. These fatty acids work by reducing the brain tangles that are seen in Alzheimer's patients. They also lower the inflammation and oxidative stress and prevent damage to brain cells.

4. Support Men’s Reproductive Health

DHA plays a vital role in testosterone synthesis and the sperm maturation process. Supplementation with DHA is effective for preventing sperm DNA damage, improving antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative stress.

5. Lower Arthritis Risk

Research shows that DHA helps relieve joint pain and inflammation seen in arthritis patients. Some animal studies suggest that DHA supplementation might be a promising treatment option for patients suffering from this debilitating condition.

6. May Improve ADHD

DHA can help improve the symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids suffering from the condition. Notably, studies have found children with ADHD to be deficient in this essential fatty acid.

7. Fight Inflammation

DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids can also help lower the inflammatory markers in the body. By doing so, they may help lower the risk of several inflammation-associated disorders, such as atherosclerosis (plaque in arteries), asthma, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel syndrome, neurological diseases and metabolic syndrome.

8. Support Muscle Recovery After Exercise

In terms of exercise-related muscle damage and pain, DHA may have some benefits, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Taking a DHA supplement may slightly help lower fatigue after an intense workout session and relieve sore muscles.

9. Support Eye Health

DHA is a key molecule present in the retinas of your eyes and therefore has important roles to play in supporting vision. It also supports the activities of other enzymes which are responsible for your eyesight. Notably, some studies have shown that DHA supplementation may even slow down age-related vision loss.

Precautions & Potential Side Effects Of DHA Supplements

Pregnant women must ensure they talk to their doctor before taking DHA supplements. These capsules may also have certain side effects for the general population such as loose stools, upset stomach, and belching. Additionally, they might lower your blood pressure and slightly increase your risk of bleeding. So if you’re taking a blood pressure lowering medication or a blood thinner, you must talk to your doctor before taking the fish oil supplements containing DHA.

Moreover, DHA supplements may interact with other medications such as your diabetes medication, aspirin and cyclosporin (often taken after an organ transplant) —increasing or decreasing their activities. So be sure to tell your doctor before you start taking them.

Conclusion

A DHA supplement may be a healthy addition to your daily routine. It can have several benefits for your heart, brain and overall body. But during pregnancy, these supplements become even more important as the growing baby needs them for the development of their nervous system. So moms-to-be, remember to get your blood levels tested and checked with your doctor so that they can recommend a DHA supplement for you if necessary. It can reduce your risks of many pregnancy-related complications and ensure you have a healthy baby.

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