Demographic and health characteristics associated with fish and <i>n</i>-3 fatty acid supplement intake during pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: n-3 fatty acid consumption during pregnancy is recommended for optimal pregnancy outcomes and offspring health. We examined characteristics associated with self-reported fish or n-3 supplement intake. Design: Pooled pregnancy cohort studies. Setting: Cohorts participating in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) consortium with births from 1999 to 2020. Participants: A total of 10 800 pregnant women in twenty-three cohorts with food frequency data on fish consumption; 12 646 from thirty-five cohorts with information on supplement use. Results: Overall, 24<middle dot>6 % reported consuming fish never or less than once per month, 40<middle dot>1 % less than once a week, 22<middle dot>1 % 1-2 times per week and 13<middle dot>2 % more than twice per week. The relative risk (RR) of ever (v. never) consuming fish was higher in participants who were older (1<middle dot>14, 95 % CI 1<middle dot>10, 1<middle dot>18 for 35-40 v. <29 years), were other than non-Hispanic White (1<middle dot>13, 95 % CI 1<middle dot>08, 1<middle dot>18 for non-Hispanic Black; 1<middle dot>05, 95 % CI 1<middle dot>01, 1<middle dot>10 for non-Hispanic Asian; 1<middle dot>06, 95 % CI 1<middle dot>02, 1<middle dot>10 for Hispanic) or used tobacco (1<middle dot>04, 95 % CI 1<middle dot>01, 1<middle dot>08). The RR was lower in those with overweight v. healthy weight (0<middle dot>97, 95 % CI 0<middle dot>95, 1<middle dot>0). Only 16<middle dot>2 % reported n-3 supplement use, which was more common among individuals with a higher age and education, a lower BMI, and fish consumption (RR 1<middle dot>5, 95 % CI 1<middle dot>23, 1<middle dot>82 for twice-weekly v. never). Conclusions: One-quarter of participants in this large nationwide dataset rarely or never consumed fish during pregnancy, and n-3 supplement use was uncommon, even among those who did not consume fish.