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Updated: May 22, 2026
09:38
Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: November 29, 2013
Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and body weight
Emilio Martínez-Victoria1, María Dolores Yago
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology and Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. emiliom@ugr.es
The British Journal of Nutrition
|May 18, 2012
Summary
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) supplementation showed no significant effect on adult body weight. While some studies suggest a modest increase in infant birth weight, robust conclusions are limited by study design and attrition.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Human Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- n-3 PUFA influence body composition and fat accumulation in animal models.
- Maternal n-3 PUFA supplementation may benefit infant birth weight and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- Systematically review clinical trials on n-3 PUFA supplementation effects on body weight in adults.
- Evaluate n-3 PUFA effects on birth weight and infant growth when supplemented during pregnancy/lactation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of controlled clinical trials on n-3 PUFA and body weight.
- Quality assessment of included studies and comparison of results.
Main Results:
- Most adult studies showed no body weight change with n-3 PUFA supplementation.
- Maternal supplementation resulted in a modest increase in birth weight in two trials; others showed no effect.
- No short-term effect of maternal n-3 PUFA on infant weight was observed.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence is insufficient to draw robust conclusions on n-3 PUFA's effect on body weight in adults or infants.
- Limitations include varied study designs, n-3 PUFA types/doses, and high attrition rates.
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