Racial disparity in efficacy of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation for prevention of preterm birth: secondary analysis from a randomized, double-blind trial
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
There is a significant racial disparity in preterm birth, disproportionately affecting pregnancies among Black individuals. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation has been shown to decrease the risk of preterm birth1. It is unknown whether there are differences in DHA efficacy among pregnancies of differing races. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of prenatal DHA supplementation to prevent preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks) and early preterm birth (EPTB, <34 weeks) in Black pregnant individuals compared to those who were non-Black.
STUDY DESIGN
Planned secondary analysis from a randomized-controlled adaptive-design multicenter trial that investigated the efficacy of DHA to reduce EPTB 2,3. Outcome data were available for 1032 of 1100 pregnant individuals who were randomized to receive a standard prenatal dose of DHA, 200 mg/day (low dose; n=492), or 1000 mg/day (high dose; n=540), from enrollment at <20 weeks until delivery. We compared DHA status (maternal red blood cell phospholipid fatty acid DHA, RBC-PL-DHA) at enrollment and delivery and pregnancy outcomes (PTB <37 weeks and EPTB <34 weeks) by maternal race. Maternal race and ethnicity were self-reported as American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Non-Hispanic Black or African American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, White, Biracial and Multiracial. For this analysis, maternal race and ethnicity were categorized in two groups: Black (participants who categorized…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 1,100 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Bioactive Molecules Released in Food by Lactic Acid Bacteria: Encrypted Peptides and Biogenic Amines
- A central role for amyloid fibrin microclots in long COVID/PASC: origins and therapeutic implications
- Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phenolic compounds
- The Glutamate Hypothesis in ALS: Pathophysiology and Drug Development
- Therapeutic Approaches to Genetic Ion Channelopathies and Perspectives in Drug Discovery
- Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on the Components of Metabolic Syndrome Concerning the Cardiometabolic Risk
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.