In past blogs I’ve written about some of the health benefits of fish oil supplements. Now a new study is saying if a pregnant woman takes fish oil that it may help her baby.
The Boston Globe reports, “Infants whose mothers take a supplement containing docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, during pregnancy could be more successful at fighting off colds,” according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published online today in the journal Pediatrics.
MedPage Today reports that “cold symptoms occurred 24% less often among babies whose mothers took” fish oil supplements, compared to mothers on a placebo.
Moreover, the children’s symptoms “resolved faster throughout the first six months of life for the supplement group.”
MedPage Today also notes that “other studies have shown less infant atopic sensitization after prenatal DHA supplementation and fewer and less severe illnesses, particularly respiratory ones, with supplementation during childhood.”
However, researchers cautioned that the symptoms were reported by the children’s mothers, not clinicians.
Nevertheless, the supplement did not seem to cause any harm. If you’re pregnant and considering any natural medication (herb, vitamin, or supplement), I always recommend you discuss this with your physician and pharmacist.
You can read my other blogs about fish oil here:

• If You Are Going to take Fish Oil — here’s how to take the right amount
• Fish oil supplements do not boost babies’ cognitive development or prevent postpartum depression
• Spoilage and labeling errors with some omega-3 and -6 supplements
• ConsumerLab.com Finds Quality Problems with Nearly 30% of Fish Oil Supplements Reviewed
• Should some kids take fish oil supplements?
• Should Kids take Fish Oil Supplements?
• Omega-Enhanced Margarines a Heart-Saver? Or Not?
• Is Krill Oil Better Than Fish Oil?
• Fish oil may help lower risk of certain types of breast cancer
• Fish oil may stave off psychiatric illness
• Understanding the California Law Suit Over PCBs in Fish Oil Supplements
• Americans spend about $34 billion annually on alternative medicine. How can you make wise decisions in this area?
• Twelve Home Remedies for Migraine Headaches
• The Top 10 Natural Products of the Year
• What a woman’s heart needs, at every age
• Red yeast rice, fish oil fight high cholesterol
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids Linked to Lower Macular Degeneration Risk