Fish Oils as a Population Based Strategy to Reduce Early Preterm Birth

Julie A. Quinlivan and Saha

Abstract

Preterm birth remains the leading challenge in perinatal mortality and morbidity in the developing world. Existing strategies to reduce preterm birth target at risk women and are not suitable as a population strategy because of their expense. However, more than 50% of preterm births are to women with no pre-existing risk factors. Therefore, population based strategies are desirable. We present the evidence for fish oil supplements as a population based strategy to reduce early preterm birth. Fish oils act as competitive antagonists of series two prostaglandins and can target premature cervical ripening as a cause of early preterm birth. These oils are safe and well tolerated by pregnant women. Analyses from randomised trials show that fish oils may be promising as a population based strategy for the prevention of early preterm birth.