Aresponse circulating so far stated that consuming fish oil for pregnant women brings positive benefits,including forhelpbaby's brain and eye development. However,in fact this claim still need to be investigated further.
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA which are important for supporting the body's metabolism. Fish oil for pregnant women is recommended because it is claimed to be better than consuming fish meat which is at high risk of containing mercury. Mercury is stored in meat or fish protein, not in the fat from which fish oil comes.
Fish oil supplements for pregnant women can be recommended as long as the reasons are clear. For example, the mother's body still lacks omega-3 even though she has eaten a variety of food sources of these nutrients. One suggestion that you may still be deficient in omega-3s is if you don't eat fish at least once a week. However, until now there is no official recommendation that pregnant women should take fish oil supplements.
Watch Before Consuming
Fish oil generally contains omega-3 fatty acids which can be useful for helping the development of the baby's brain and eyes. EPA and DHA contained in omega-3 fish oil are suspected to have a role in infant brain development, reduce the risk of asthma in infants, potentially prevent premature labor, and reduce the risk of preeclampsia. In addition, consumption of fish oil in nursing mothers is thought to increase maternal energy.
Fish oil supplements for pregnant women are generally in the form of gel, liquid, or chewable tablets. Even so, you need to pay attention to the products you buy because there are two types of fish oil. Here's the explanation:
- Omega-3 supplements made from fish are relatively safe for consumption by pregnant women.
- Supplements made from fish liver, such as cod liver oil, are not safe for pregnant women to take. Cod liver oil generally contains high levels of retinol, another form of vitamin A, which can harm the fetus.
Pregnant women are advised not to take fish oil and any supplements containing vitamin A. Pregnant women should avoid consuming liver and products made from liver. These foods contain a lot of vitamin A. When pregnant women consume too much vitamin A, there can be an increased risk of birth defects in the baby.
In addition, you should also check the levels of DHA and EPA in it. Taking fish oil supplements containing 450 mg of DHA and EPA a day is equivalent to consuming 1-2 servings of fish for a week. Doses of DHA that are too high are also at risk of causing bleeding. Therefore, it's a good idea to consult a fish oil supplement with a gynecologist before consuming it.
Options Other Than Fish Oil
To date there is no official recommendation that pregnant women should take fish oil supplements. To get the benefits of omega-3, it is better to eat fish directly than to take fish oil supplements. Fish meat is a good source of nutrients to support the health of the fetus and pregnant women. Salmon, sardines, freshwater fish, cod, herring, shellfish, crab, and shrimp can be an option for pregnant women to eat. But this is not the case with canned tuna whose oil has been lost during processing.
Eating fish directly makes pregnant women also get protein, vitamins, and minerals that are not obtained from consuming fish oil supplements for pregnant women. Research has found that pregnant women who eat more fish have a lower risk of giving birth to babies with low birth weight, having preterm labor, or pre-eclampsia.
However, do not overeat fish meat. Two servings of fish a week is the recommended amount for pregnant women. This is because marine fish can store deposits of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which can also accumulate in the human body for a long time and can have an impact on the fetus.
In addition to fish, now many other foods, such as eggs, juices, yogurt, cereals, milk, and margarine, are also fortified with omega-3. There are also omega-3 supplements made from seaweed so they don't contain high levels of vitamin A, which can harm the fetus, and don't contain mercury. Fish oil supplements for pregnant women can also be consumed by vegetarians.