To describe self-reported omega-3 supplement use during pregnancy and explore its associations with information sources, education, parity, and preconception omega-3 use.
Approach:
Design and setting: Anonymous online cross-sectional survey at University Hospital Frankfurt, conducted June 2024–January 2025.
Participants and measures: Pregnant women were recruited at hospital information evenings and outpatient antenatal appointments. The questionnaire covered demographics, supplement use, preconception omega-3 use, knowledge, and information sources.
Analysis scope: The study was exploratory; no confirmatory hypotheses were tested.
Key Findings:
The provided context describes the study aims and methods but does not report participant numbers, results, or associations.
Interpretation:
The study was designed to examine reported omega-3 use and information sources in a selective university-hospital sample.
Limitations:
The study was cross-sectional, involved a small, selective sample, and was exploratory.
Supplement use was self-reported; dosage, DHA/EPA content, formulation, frequency, duration, and adherence were not collected.
Self-reported use therefore cannot establish whether supplementation was guideline-concordant.
by Anna Elisabeth Hentrich, Doerthe Brueggmann, Samira Catharina Hoock, Lukas Jennewein, Nina-Naomi Kreis, Wiebke Schaarschmidt, Anne Kristina Kaempf, Frank Louwen, Eileen Deuster
