Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation to Prevent Recurrent Preterm Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Citation

Harper, Margaret A.; Thom, Elizabeth A.; Klebanoff, Mark A.; Thorp, John M., Jr.; Sorokin, Yoram; Varner, Michael W.; Wapner, Ronald J.; Caritis, Steve N.; Iams, Jay D.; & Carpenter, Marshall W., et al. (2010). Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation to Prevent Recurrent Preterm Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 115(2, Part 1), 234-242. PMCID: PMC4022705

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the addition of an omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplement would reduce preterm birth in women with at least one prior spontaneous preterm birth receiving 17[alpha]-hydroxyprogesterone caproate.
METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial in 13 centers. Women with a history of prior spontaneous singleton preterm birth and a current singleton gestation were assigned to either a daily omega-3 supplement (1,200 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 800 mg docosahexaenoic acid) or matching placebo from 16-22 through 36 weeks of gestation. All participants received weekly intramuscular 17[alpha]-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (250 mg). The primary study outcome was delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. A sample size of 800 was necessary to have 80% power to detect a 30% reduction in the primary outcome from 30%, assuming a type I error two-sided of 5%.
RESULTS: A total of 852 women were included, and none was lost to follow up. Delivery before 37 weeks of gestation occurred in 37.8% (164/434) of women in the omega-3 group and 41.6% (174/418) in the placebo group (relative risk 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.77-1.07).
CONCLUSION: Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation offered no benefit in reducing preterm birth among women receiving 17[alpha]-hydroxyprogesterone caproate who have a history of preterm delivery.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181cbd60e

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2010

Journal Title

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Author(s)

Harper, Margaret A.
Thom, Elizabeth A.
Klebanoff, Mark A.
Thorp, John M., Jr.
Sorokin, Yoram
Varner, Michael W.
Wapner, Ronald J.
Caritis, Steve N.
Iams, Jay D.
Carpenter, Marshall W.
Peaceman, Alan M.
Mercer, Brian M.
Sciscione, Anthony C.
Rouse, Dwight J.
Ramin, Susan M.
Anderson, Garland D., for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network

PMCID

PMC4022705

ORCiD

Thorp - 0000-0002-9307-6690