Kim Ross, DCN, CNS, LDN, FMCP⁺

The Importance of DHA During Pregnancy

1. Key Points
2. Why DHA Matters During Pregnancy
3. Assessing and Recommending DHA Intake in Clinical Practice
4. Pure Encapsulations® Nutrient Solutions^‡
5. Resources

Key Points

• DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is highly concentrated in the fetal brain and nervous system.
• Maternal transfer of DHA increases substantially during late pregnancy, when fetal brain and eye development are especially active.
• Many pregnant patients do not meet seafood intake recommendations, making DHA intake an important point of assessment in prenatal nutrition counseling.
• Prenatal dietary DHA intake may help support healthy birth weight and healthy pregnancy progression, in addition to its foundational role in fetal neurodevelopment.^‡

Why DHA Matters During Pregnancy

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and the dominant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain, as well as the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in the nervous system. Because of its central role in neural structure and function, consuming dietary DHA is especially important during pregnancy.

DHA is involved in placental development early in pregnancy and continues to accumulate in the fetal brain throughout gestation, with the most rapid accretion occurring from approximately weeks 29 to 40, a period of accelerated brain and retinal development. DHA is also critically involved in neuronal growth and synapse formation during fetal development and early life, which helps explain why maternal DHA status before conception, during pregnancy and during lactation is clinically relevant.^{1,2 ‡}

Assessing and Recommending DHA Intake in Clinical Practice

A practical issue in clinical care is that many women enter pregnancy with suboptimal DHA status, often due to low seafood intake or a dietary fatty acid pattern that does not support adequate omega-3 status.¹ Early assessment is therefore important. A brief review of seafood intake can help determine whether a patient is likely meeting DHA needs through food alone.

Pregnant women are advised to consume 8 to 12 ounces of low-mercury seafood per week.^3–5 Salmon is a particularly rich source of DHA, providing approximately 1.2 grams per 3-ounce serving.⁵

For patients with low seafood intake, food aversions or inconsistent intake of DHA-rich foods, supplementation may be considered. Several professional groups suggest a minimum of 250 mg/day of DHA plus EPA during pregnancy, with some recommending an additional 100 to 200 mg/day of DHA and others suggesting 600 to 1,000 mg/day, ideally beginning by 20 weeks gestation.⁵

Clinical Takeaway

DHA warrants clinical consideration during pregnancy because it supports fetal brain, nervous system and eye development. It may also contribute to healthy pregnancy progression and birth outcomes. From a practice standpoint, assessing DHA intake early, encouraging regular consumption of lower-mercury seafood (8-12 ounces per week) and identifying whether additional dietary or supplemental DHA support is needed can help promote adequate intake, ideally by 20 weeks gestation.^‡

Pure Encapsulations^® Options for Targeted Nutritional Support^‡

DHA Ultimate is a supercritical CO2 extracted DHA fish oil that supports healthy neural and cognitive function.^‡ Epidemiological studies indicate that a high intake of DHA is associated with healthy cognitive function in adults as well as infants born to mothers with a diet high in DHA.^6,7
Suggested Dose: 2 softgel capsules daily, with a meal

EPA/DHA Essentials is an ultra-pure, microfiltered fish oil concentrate that supports cardiovascular health and daily wellness.^‡
Suggested Dose: 1-2 softgel capsules daily, with a meal

Resources

For additional information to help you deliver the most effective care for women’s health from preconception to postpartum, refer to the resources below:

Women’s Fertility Support Protocol

Pregnancy Support Protocol

Postpartum Care Protocol

Supporting Female Fertility with Nutrition: Blog

To learn more about the research on selected nutrient solutions, download the following:

• DHA Ultimate

Drug-Nutrient Interactions Checker: Provides valuable information on potential interactions between your patients' prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements.

You can also explore Pure Encapsulations^® to find On-Demand Learning, Clinical Protocols and other resources developed with our medical and scientific advisors.

1. Basak S, Mallick R, Duttaroy AK. Nutrients . 2020;12(12). doi:10.3390/nu12123615
2. Ghazal RM, Naffaa MM. Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy. 2025;2025(5). doi:10.37349/ent.2025.1004107
3. Bramante CT, Spiller P, Landa M. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(9):801-802. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.1619
4. Hibbeln CJR, Spiller P, Brenna JT, et al. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2019;151. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2019.10.002
5. NIH. Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Health Professional Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements. 2019.
6. Jackson PA, Reay JL, Scholey AB, Kennedy DO. Br J Nutr. 2012;107(8). doi:10.1017/S0007114511004041
7. Tahaei H, Gignac F, Pinar A, et al. Nutrients. 2022;14(3). doi:10.3390/nu14030518

⁺Dr. Ross is a paid consultant for Pure Encapsulations.