Prenatal Maternal Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation and Newborn Anthropometry in India: Findings from DHANI

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acid status during pregnancy may influence newborn anthropometry and duration of gestation. Evidence from high-quality trials low- middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among 957 pregnant women (singleton gestation, 14–20 weeks’ gestation at enrollment) in India to test the effectiveness 400 mg/day algal docosahexaenoic (DHA) compared placebo provided enrollment through delivery. Among 3379 who were screened, 1171 found eligible; enrolled randomized. The intervention was two microencapsulated DHA (200 × 2 = mg/day) or soy corn oil tablets be consumed daily (≤20 weeks) primary outcome (birth weight, length, head circumference). Secondary outcomes gestational age 1 5 min Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration (APGAR) score. groups (DHA; n 478 placebo; 479) well balanced baseline. There 902 live births. Compliance with similar across (DHA: 88.5%; placebo: 87.1%). no significant differences between for birth weight (2750.6 ± 421.5 vs. 2768.2 436.6 g, p 0.54), length (47.3 2.0 47.5 cm, 0.13), circumference (33.7 1.4 33.8 0.15). mean delivery 38.8 1.7 wk, 0.54) as APGAR scores min. Supplementing mothers did not impact offspring‘s birthweight, circumference.