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Fish Oil and Folate Supplementation During Pregnancy

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Neurological Development
Perinatal DHA and Folate Status
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: fish oil
Dietary Supplement: fish oil + folate
Dietary Supplement: folate
Dietary Supplement: placebo
Registration Number
NCT01180933
Lead Sponsor
Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich
Brief Summary

Pregnant women are randomised to supplementation with fish oil, methyl tetrahydro folic acid, both or a placebo during the second half of pregnancy. Biochemical measures are determined in maternal blood during pregnancy and in cord blood.

Non invasive follow up examinations of infants at ages 4, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8, 9 and 9.5 years focus on long term effects of supplementation anthropometric development, neurological development and allergy risk.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
315
Inclusion Criteria
  • singleton pregnancy
  • gestation <20 week at enrollment
  • intention to deliver in one of the study centers
  • body weight at time of enrollment from 50 kg to 92 kg
Exclusion Criteria
  • serious chronic illness (eg, diabetes, hepatitis)
  • use fish oil supplements since the beginning of pregnancy
  • use of folate or vitamin B-12 supplements after gestation week 16

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
fish oilfish oilthe participating women receive a milk based supplement providing vitamins and mineral as recommended for pregnant women and 500 mg DHA and 150 eicosapentaenoic acid per day from gestational week 22 until delivery
fish oil + folatefish oil + folatethe participating women receive a milk based supplement providing vitamins and mineral as recommended for pregnant women and 500 mg DHA, 150 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 400 µg MTHF per day from gestational week 22 until delivery
folatefolatethe participating women receive a milk based supplement providing vitamins and mineral as recommended for pregnant women and 400 µg folate (methyltetrahydrofolate)per day from gestational week 22 until delivery
placeboplacebothe participating women receive a milk based supplement providing vitamins and mineral as recommended for pregnant women from gestational week 22 until delivery
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
percentage contribution of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to total phospholipid fatty acids in cord bloodlabour

the biochemical efficacy of supplementation during pregnancy is tested by measuring the DHA content of cord blood phospholipids, as direct supplementation (fish oil) or increased perfusion of the placenta (MTHF) could both influence this parameter

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
neurological and cognitive development of the offspringage 4 years, 5.5 years, 6.5 years, 7.5 years, 8 years, 9 years, 9.5 years

non invasive, age adequate, tests of neurological and cognitive function are performed at various ages of the offspring

weight developmentage 4 years, 5.5 years, 6.5 years, 8 years, 9.5 years

body weight (including weight of fat and non fat mass by bioelectrical impedance at later ages) is determined

life style and dietage 4 years, 5.5 years, 6.5 years, 7.5 years, 8 years, 9 years, 9.5 years

information on medical history, life sytyle and dietary habits is collected via questionnaires and non invasivly collected of biological samples (urine, cheek cells)

heightage 4 years, 5.5 years, 6.5 years, 8 years, 9.5 years

body height is measured at ages 4 years, 5.5 years, 6.5 years, 8 years, 9.5 years

electroencephalography (EEG)age 8 years and 9.5 years

at age 8 years and 9.5 years an EEG is obtained while the children are performing defined tests

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Dr. von Hauner Childrens Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University

🇩🇪

Munich, Germany

Department of Paediatrics, University of Granada

🇪🇸

Granada, Spain

University of Pecs

🇭🇺

Pecs, Hungary

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