Most Chicago parents aren’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids and that shortfall could affect their children’s long-term health, according to a new study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 parents across every Chicago neighborhood and found that their average intake of omega-3s fell well below the 250 milligrams per day recommended by federal dietary guidelines. Women reported especially low levels, and those who had experienced a premature birth in the past consumed the least omega-3s of all.
Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential for brain, heart and immune health. They also play a role in preventing preterm birth and supporting early child development. These nutrients are most abundant in seafood such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and trout, and are found in smaller amounts in eggs, poultry and fortified foods.
“As our children grow from infancy to early childhood, they are developing their own dietary habits, and a lot of that comes from our parents and what’s happening in the household,” said Dr. Daniel Robinson, corresponding author and associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “If we have parents whose general eating habits are that they consume lower-than-recommended amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, I would expect that their child’s eating habits probably wouldn’t include higher amounts of seafood.”
The study, published in Nutrients, found that mothers consumed about 130 milligrams of omega-3s per day, while fathers averaged 160 milligrams, both far below recommended levels. Researchers linked lower intake to lower household income, certain racial and ethnic backgrounds, and not using supplements containing DHA.
Previous studies have shown that low omega-3 intake during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth. This study went further, finding that mothers who had a premature birth in the past were more likely to continue eating fewer omega-3-rich foods.
“If someone who has had a preterm birth in the past is now eating even less omega-3s, and they become pregnant again, they could be at increased risk of another preterm birth due to their diet,” Robinson said.
To close the gap, researchers recommend that health care providers emphasize omega-3 intake as part of family and prenatal nutrition counseling, helping parents make seafood a regular part of their diet.
“Health care providers should think about this problem longitudinally and not in our own silos of expertise,” Robinson said. “The whole timeline — from before a woman becomes pregnant through when that child becomes an adult — needs to be considered.”
This study was funded by an anonymous family foundation dedicated to advancing community health in low-resource neighborhoods and by the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities.