Context Uncertainty about the benefits of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for pregnant
women and their children exists, despite international recommendations that pregnant
women increase their DHA intakes. Objective To determine whether increasing DHA during
the last half of pregnancy will result in fewer women with high levels of depressive symptoms
and enhance the neurodevelopmental outcome of their children. Design, Setting, and
Participants A double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (DHA to Optimize …

Although several epidemiological studies have reported that higher intake of n-3 long-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy is associated with both a reduced risk of
postpartum depression and improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, the results
of other intervention trials have been inconsistent. Despite the uncertainty of benefit, there
are now international recommendations for pregnant women to increase their intake of
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids believed to be …