When should pregnant women start taking DHA?

Pregnant women need to supplement a variety of nutrients during pregnancy, such as calcium, iron, and zinc. Many pregnant women will take DHA, so when should pregnant women start taking DHA? What are the common problems in using DHA for pregnant women? Next, I will explain these aspects in detail for everyone, hoping to be of some help to everyone.

When should pregnant women start taking DHA?

Generally speaking, the best effect is achieved from the late pregnancy (after 20 weeks of pregnancy) to 6 months after the baby is born. Because this is the time when the fetal brain develops faster, it is necessary to absorb DHA. Therefore, experts recommend that pregnant women take appropriate supplements of DHA from the fourth month of pregnancy. After the baby is born, the mother can continue to take DHA and nourish the fetus through breast milk.

What are the common problems in using DHA for pregnant women?

Pregnant women should take DHA nutritional supplements after eating more foods such as milk, fish, and tofu, so that they can be fully digested and absorbed. Because the DHA in fish oil is stored in the form of fat, it needs the help of bile in the duodenum to be digested and absorbed after eating. Generally, bile secretion will be generated through the nerve reflex surface on the gastrointestinal mucosa after eating foods rich in protein and fat. Therefore, pregnant mothers should not be picky about food during pregnancy, and should not rely solely on nutritional supplements to supplement nutrition. The main source of nutrition should still be absorbed from the diet.

Many DHA nutritional supplements on the market at this stage are fish oil products. Both products contain DHA and EPA (another omega-3 fatty acid). Pregnant women should take fish oil products with high DHA and low EPA content. Because the DHA content in fish oil from Chinese waters is higher than that from the Bay of Biscay and other waters, domestic DHA nutritional supplements are high in DHA and low in EPA. Therefore, it is more suitable and cost-effective for pregnant women to choose domestic products than imported products.

If the body does not take in enough certain nutrients for a long time, there will be a risk of nutrient deficiency, but if the intake level exceeds the maximum intake that the body can tolerate, the possibility of toxic side effects will increase. The same is true for essential fatty acids ω6, ω3, and DHA produced from essential fatty acids. Too much DHA and AA can cause side effects, such as decreased immunity, so pregnant women should effectively control the amount of DHA nutritional supplements they take.