Preterm birth
Can omega-3 intake during pregnancy reduce preterm birth?
A large Cochrane review found fewer preterm births with additional long-chain omega-3 during pregnancy. Benefit and trade-offs depend on the pregnancy and outcome.
Updated September 24, 2026 · Editorial attribution: PV Griscom, M.Sc. · Independent clinical review pending
The question behind the headline
70 pregnancy trials involving 19,927 women; long-chain omega-3 versus no additional omega-3 or placebo.
What the finding does—and doesn’t—tell us
Pregnancies extending beyond 42 weeks were more frequent. This does not establish the best regimen for every pregnancy or guaranteed developmental benefits for the child.
Read the underlying research.
Selected sources, not an exhaustive reference list. Rating draws on published results and review summaries; no independent full systematic review has been conducted. Source publication dates may precede this page’s update date.
Three questions to take forward
- Was the study population similar to the person or situation I have in mind?
- Did it measure an outcome people feel or experience, or only a laboratory marker?
- How do formulation, usual care, absolute benefit and adverse effects change the interpretation?
Study doses describe experiments; they are not personal dosing advice. Explore safety and limitations ↗