Apparently, babies’ visual acuity as well as their cognitive and motor development were closely linked to DHA concentration in the umbilical cord blood at the time of their birth. This emphasizes how important a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids is, particularly during the last trimester when the fetus undergoes crucial retinal and brain development.

“A diet rich in omega-3s during pregnancy can’t be expected to solve everything, but our results show that such a diet has positive effects on a child’s sensory, cognitive, and motor development. Benefits from eating fish with low contaminant levels and high omega-3 contents, such as trout, salmon, and sardines, far outweigh potential risks even during pregnancy,” conclude the researchers.

Don’t know which fish is safe to eat? Read my previous entry on this. Don’t like fish? Fish oil supplements are just as good.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acid (DHA) Boosts An Infant’s Cognitive And Motor Development

At the end of the study period, Harris and co-workers report that the 11 women in the fish group showed a 4.0 per increase in the levels of EPA and DHA in the red blood cells, while their counterparts receiving the fish oil supplements showed a 4.3 per cent increase.

They also note that levels of the omega-3 fatty acids stabilised in plasma phospholipids after four weeks, but levels in the red blood cells continued to increase throughout the 16-week period.

“These findings suggest that the consumption of equal amounts of EPA and DHA from oily fish on a weekly basis or from fish-oil capsules on a daily basis is equally effective at enriching blood lipids with omega-3 fatty acids,” concluded the researchers.

These data should be make the manufacturers of fish oil capsules very happy. Some people, particularly pregnant women who need adequate omega-3 fatty acids in their diet but are afraid of the risks of consuming fish that might be exposed to pollutants such as PCBs and heavy metals, might shift to taking fish oil supplements instead.

Personally, I think I’ll stay with fish. No pill can substitute for the flavor and epicurean delight one can derive from eating “real” food. You just have to know which fish is safe to eat.

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Fish or Fish Oil Supplement- Which is Healthier?