Omega-3 fatty acidsDoes DHA in pregnancy improve brain development in children?
Short answer
Trials have not shown it. A 2026 review pooled 19 trials and found no benefit of DHA in pregnancy on children's attention, motor skills, intelligence, language, executive function or short-term memory.[1] Birth weight was about 73 g higher.[1] A 2018 Cochrane review also found very few differences in children's cognition, IQ, vision or behaviour.[2]
In the DOMInO trial, 2,399 women took 800 mg of DHA a day or a vegetable oil from before 21 weeks of pregnancy until birth. Their children's cognitive and language scores at 18 months did not differ.[3] Omega-3 in pregnancy did lower the risk of preterm birth by 11% and of early preterm birth by 42%.[2]
Sources (3)
- Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation in Individuals During Pregnancy on Neurodevelopment and Growth of Offspring: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Xie L, Zhou M, Lu L, Ning X, Song Y Dev Psychobiol, 2026. PMID 42494300
- Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. Middleton P, Gomersall JC, Gould JF, Shepherd E, Olsen SF, Makrides M Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2018. PMID 30480773
- Effect of DHA supplementation during pregnancy on maternal depression and neurodevelopment of young children: a randomized controlled trial. Makrides M, Gibson RA, McPhee AJ, Yelland L, Quinlivan J, Ryan P JAMA, 2010. PMID 20959577
More about omega-3 fatty acids
What are omega-3 fatty acids?What is the difference between ALA, EPA and DHA?What are omega-3 fatty acids used for?Which foods are high in omega-3?Are omega-3 supplements safe?Does plant omega-3 (ALA) protect the heart?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.