Claims have been made about the benefits of fish oil supplementation. However, our research, including studies in collaboration with colleagues from Adelaide University, has suggested harm.
Jasani B, et al. Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants born at term. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017 – Review. Among authors Patole SK. PMID 28281303 Free PMC article.
Moon K, et al. Longchain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Stys Rev 2016 – Review. Among authors: Patole SK. PMID 27995607Free PMC article.
Meldrum S and Simmer K. Docosahexaenoic acid and neurodevelopmental outcomes of term infants. Ann Nutr Metab 2016 – Review. PMID 27842311 Free article
Carmel CT, Makrides M, McPhee JA, Sullivan TR, Davis PG, Thio M, Simmer K, et al. Docosahexaenoic acid and bronchropulmonary dysplasia. N Engl J Med. 2017.This large RCT tested the hypothesis that high dose DHA would reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD), an inflammatory condition in preterm infants. Intervention was associated with harm/CLD.
Meldrum SJ, Li Y, Zhang G, Heaton AEM, D'Vaz N, Manz J, Reischl E, Koletzko BV, Prescott SL, Simmer K. Can polymorphisms in the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene cluster alter the effects of fish oil supplementation on plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid profiles? An exploratory study. Eur J Nutr. 2017 Sep 19.
Collins, CT, Makrides, M, McPhee, AJ, Sullivan, TR, Davis, PG, Thio, M, Simmer, K, Rajadurai, VS, Travadi, J, Berry, MJ. and Liley, HG. Docosahexaenoic Acid and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Infants, New England Journal of Medicine 2017;376:1245-55.
Collins C, Gibson R, Anderson P, McPhee A, Sullivan T, Gould J, Ryan P, Doyle L, Davis P, McMichael J, French N, Colditz P, Simmer K, Morris S, Mkrides M. Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 7 years’ corrected age in preterm infants who were fed high-dose docosahexaenoic acid to term equivalent: a follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2015 Mar;5(3):e007314.
Meldrum S, Dunstan JA, Foster JK, Simmer K, Prescott SL. Maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy: a 12-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. Nutrients. 2015 May;7(3):2061-7.