omega-3 and dha???

does anyone know the daily recommened values for these fish-oils? I just started taking fish oil along with my prenatals, so my baby can be a genius ...but not sure how much to take...obviously I need them too
TIA for your answers

Message edited 6/16/2008 3:15:52 PM.

Re: omega-3 and dha???

I take 2 a day. At the same time. Normally after breakfast.

Re: omega-3 and dha

I find it sort of strange that DHA isn't standard (like folic acid) as a supplement for pregnant women. The FDA released a few reports a couple years ago recommending all OB's place their patients on DHA supplements to promote fetal brain development (It has been shown in a few studies to raise IQ's by about 5-8 points... but sadly only genetics makes a baby a genius )

At any rate, the board on the FDA panel varied in their opinion on what the minimal DHA intake should be... it ranged from 200 mg to 800+mg a day... The general consensus was AT LEAST 300 mg/day. Another important consideration is how much omega 6's are you consuming, since it's the ratio of 3's and 6's in the diet that is the most important. Generally, the american diet is OVERLOADED with 6, and is deficient in 3, creating a really poor ratio of 3 to 6 which promotes several disease states...

well, it's best to take DHA from a non-fish source, since depending upon the purification methods by the manufacturer, it could still contain nasty chemicals and heavy metals (just like eating salmon or other oily large fish)

I take 2 pills a day (totalling 400 mg) of expecta DHA (I buy it on drugstore.com). It's from the same manufacturer as the DHA found in formula. Also, I have swapped out my cooking oils (we seldom eat out) to canola oil in order to reduce omega 6 consumption. omega 6 oils include: Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Soya (aka 'vegetable oil')

pubmed research article abstract discussing omega 6/3 ratios (can you tell I'm a neuropharmacologist who studies lipophilic (fatty) compounds :

Several sources of information suggest that human beings evolved on a diet with a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) of approximately 1 whereas in Western diets the ratio is 15/1-16.7/1. Western diets are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids compared with the diet on which human beings evolved and their genetic patterns were established. Excessive amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a very high omega-6/omega-3 ratio, as is found in today's Western diets, promote the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, whereas increased levels of omega-3 PUFA (a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio) exert suppressive effects. In the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, a ratio of 4/1 was associated with a 70% decrease in total mortality. A ratio of 2.5/1 reduced rectal cell proliferation in patients with colorectal cancer, whereas a ratio of 4/1 with the same amount of omega-3 PUFA had no effect. The lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio in women with breast cancer was associated with decreased risk. A ratio of 2-3/1 suppressed inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and a ratio of 5/1 had a beneficial effect on patients with asthma, whereas a ratio of 10/1 had adverse consequences. These studies indicate that the optimal ratio may vary with the disease under consideration. This is consistent with the fact that chronic diseases are multigenic and multifactorial. Therefore, it is quite possible that the therapeutic dose of omega-3 fatty acids will depend on the degree of severity of disease resulting from the genetic predisposition. A lower ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids is more desirable in reducing the risk of many of the chronic diseases of high prevalence in Western societies, as well as in the developing countries, that are being exported to the rest of the world.



another website with omega 6:3 ratio info

hope this helps!

Re: omega-3 and dha???

I take Expecta, which is non-fish oil DHA supplement especially for pregnant and nursing Moms.

Re: omega-3 and dha???

Posted by wannabemom

I find it sort of strange that DHA isn't standard (like folic acid) as a supplement for pregnant women. The FDA released a few reports a couple years ago recommending all OB's place their patients on DHA supplements to promote fetal brain development (It has been shown in a few studies to raise IQ's by about 5-8 points... but sadly only genetics makes a baby a genius )

At any rate, the board on the FDA panel varied in their opinion on what the minimal DHA intake should be... it ranged from 200 mg to 800+mg a day... The general consensus was AT LEAST 300 mg/day. Another important consideration is how much omega 6's are you consuming, since it's the ratio of 3's and 6's in the diet that is the most important. Generally, the american diet is OVERLOADED with 6, and is deficient in 3, creating a really poor ratio of 3 to 6 which promotes several disease states...

well, it's best to take DHA from a non-fish source, since depending upon the purification methods by the manufacturer, it could still contain nasty chemicals and heavy metals (just like eating salmon or other oily large fish)

I take 2 pills a day (totalling 400 mg) of expecta DHA (I buy it on drugstore.com). It's from the same manufacturer as the DHA found in formula. Also, I have swapped out my cooking oils (we seldom eat out) to canola oil in order to reduce omega 6 consumption. omega 6 oils include: Safflower, Sunflower, Corn, Soya (aka 'vegetable oil')

pubmed research article abstract discussing omega 6/3 ratios (can you tell I'm a neuropharmacologist who studies lipophilic (fatty) compounds :

Several sources of information suggest that human beings evolved on a diet with a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) of approximately 1 whereas in Western diets the ratio is 15/1-16.7/1. Western diets are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids compared with the diet on which human beings evolved and their genetic patterns were established. Excessive amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a very high omega-6/omega-3 ratio, as is found in today's Western diets, promote the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, whereas increased levels of omega-3 PUFA (a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio) exert suppressive effects. In the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, a ratio of 4/1 was associated with a 70% decrease in total mortality. A ratio of 2.5/1 reduced rectal cell proliferation in patients with colorectal cancer, whereas a ratio of 4/1 with the same amount of omega-3 PUFA had no effect. The lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio in women with breast cancer was associated with decreased risk. A ratio of 2-3/1 suppressed inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and a ratio of 5/1 had a beneficial effect on patients with asthma, whereas a ratio of 10/1 had adverse consequences. These studies indicate that the optimal ratio may vary with the disease under consideration. This is consistent with the fact that chronic diseases are multigenic and multifactorial. Therefore, it is quite possible that the therapeutic dose of omega-3 fatty acids will depend on the degree of severity of disease resulting from the genetic predisposition. A lower ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids is more desirable in reducing the risk of many of the chronic diseases of high prevalence in Western societies, as well as in the developing countries, that are being exported to the rest of the world.



another website with omega 6:3 ratio info

hope this helps!

Re: omega-3 and dha???

Posted by newwife08

does anyone know the daily recommened values for these fish-oils? I just started taking fish oil along with my prenatals, so my baby can be a genious ...but not sure how much to take...obviously I need them too
TIA for your answers

Re: omega-3 and dha???

i take one capsule of the expecta DHA for pregnant women. It is great and i dont get the regurge that a lot of women talk about when they take the fish oils.

Re: omega-3 and dha???

Posted by Laura1976

Posted by newwife08

does anyone know the daily recommened values for these fish-oils? I just started taking fish oil along with my prenatals, so my baby can be a genious ...but not sure how much to take...obviously I need them too
TIA for your answers

Did you ask your doctor about taking the fish oil? I've read your not supposed to take the fish oil capsules, but take DHA supplements.

Re: omega-3 and dha???

I take "Natures Bounty" Fish Oil, which is Mercury Free and derived from (herring, anchovy, mackerel, sardine, menhaden, smelt, tuna, and sand lance) What do you girls think, is this a safe one to be taking?? Called doc, but they haven't returned my phonecall yet TIA

Re: omega-3 and dha???

my prenatal comes with an omega supplement (citranatal). i'm a big fan of omegas and have taken the 3-6-9 prior to being pregnant. i wish i could convince DH to swallow a capsule daily! HA! i agree, that they are best from non-fish sources, but i have found nordic naturals to be the best fish-based source. speak to your doctor.

Re: omega-3 and dha???

My prenatal vitamins contain omega-3 and DHA. I would talk to your doctor before you start taking any supplements. I am sure he/she will tell you how much to take and recommend what kind is best.

Re: omega-3 and dha???

before I was pg, I was taking one prenatal and one omega 3 pill a day. once I found out, I took 2 per day. The bottle recommended 3 per day with meals, but I have since started taking prenatals with a good amount of omega 3's dha/epa.
the ingredients on my prenatals say:
omega 3 fatty acid 330 mg
dha 260 mg
epa 40 mg

Re: omega-3 and dha???

I heard about this expecta vitamin, I wanna get it but can't find it by me!
XOXOXO
BOTB

Re: omega-3 and dha???

Re: omega-3 and dha???

Re: omega-3 and dha???

Posted by KateDevine

Posted by wannabemom

Posted by babyonthebrain

I heard about this expecta vitamin, I wanna get it but can't find it by me!
XOXOXO
BOTB

drugstore.com!

yeah, It's totally not in stores... what I do is find a drugstore.com coupon and buy some other stuff we need (razors, shave gel, hair products... you get the idea). as long as it's at least $50, it's free shipping. I tend to buy numerous boxes at once, so we only place an order every 3 months or so.....

It is at BRU.

And I'm going to be honest here ladies, OUR moms didn't take anything with DHA so I wouldn't worry that much about it.

I never even took my prenatals, they made me too sick and my DS is perfectly healthy and quite smart if I do say so myself!

Re: omega-3 and dha???

You're so right! We will all be fine...btw...I called yesterday and they told me to stop taking the fishoil even though it contains no mercury I have an appt on tues and will get down to the bottom of this with my doc...I know that there is an upgrade to the prenatal I take that has dha, so I will just ask him to prescribe it to me. I now take prenate elite... Thanks for all of your input!