Is it necessary for pregnant women to take DHA?

Mar 18, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Lu

Introduction

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a nutrient that promotes brain and visual development. Whether pregnant women need to take DHA depends on fetal development and the mother's nutrient intake. If the diet is nutritionally adequate to meet the needs of both the pregnant woman and the fetus, additional supplementation is generally unnecessary. However, if the pregnant woman lacks DHA and fetal development is affected, supplementation under a doctor's guidance may be required to support fetal development.

Generally speaking, DHA refers to docosahexaenoic acid. Whether pregnant women need to take docosahexaenoic acid mainly depends on the development of the fetus and the nutritional intake of the pregnant woman. If the fetus develops well and the pregnant woman herself is not deficient in docosahexaenoic acid, it is generally unnecessary to take it. However, if fetal development is poor and the pregnant woman is deficient in docosahexaenoic acid, it is advisable to take it under medical guidance. The detailed explanation is as follows:

If a pregnant woman's regular diet contains sufficient docosahexaenoic acid to meet her body's needs, and prenatal examinations have not detected any不良 development of the fetal brain or vision, additional supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid is usually unnecessary, to avoid excessive intake which may burden the body and cause discomfort.

However, if a pregnant woman's regular diet lacks docosahexaenoic acid, leading to severe deficiency in her body, and the development of the fetal brain and visual system has already been affected, additional supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid under a doctor's supervision is generally necessary. This can promote the development of the fetal brain and visual system, support the overall health of the fetus, and potentially reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

It is recommended that pregnant women regularly attend prenatal check-ups at the hospital to timely monitor fetal development. At the same time, maintaining good lifestyle and dietary habits is important to support healthy fetal development.

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