Yelland, L.N.Sullivan, T.R.Gibson, R.A.Simmonds, L.A.Thakkar, S.K.Huang, F.Devaraj, S.Best, K.P.Zolezzi, I.S.Makrides, M.2023-05-022023-05-022023BMJ Open, 2023; 13(4):e070220-e0702202044-60552044-6055https://hdl.handle.net/2440/138172OBJECTIVES: The risk factors for prematurity are multifactorial and include low omega-3 status. Omega-3 supplementation in pregnancy has been found to reduce prematurity risk, particularly among women with low omega-3 levels. This study aimed to identify maternal characteristics that predict whether women with a singleton pregnancy will benefit from omega-3 supplementation to reduce their risk of prematurity. DESIGN: Exploratory analyses of a multicentre, double-blind randomised trial. SETTING: 6 tertiary care centres in four states in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 5328 singleton pregnancies in 5305 women recruited before 20 weeks of gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Fish oil capsules containing 900 mg omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids per day versus vegetable oil capsules consumed from enrolment until 34 weeks' gestation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Early preterm birth (EPTB, <34 weeks' gestation) and preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks' gestation) analysed using logistic regression models with interactions between treatment group and a range of maternal biological, clinical and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Omega-3 supplementation reduced the odds of EPTB for women with low total omega-3 status in early pregnancy (OR=0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.93). No additional maternal characteristics influenced whether omega-3 supplementation reduced the odds of EPTB. For PTB, women were more likely to benefit from omega-3 supplementation if they were multiparous (OR=0.65, 95% CI 0.49-0.87) or avoided alcohol in the lead up to pregnancy (OR=0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support previous findings that women with low total omega-3 levels in early pregnancy are most likely to benefit from taking omega-3 supplements to reduce their risk of EPTB. Understanding how other maternal characteristics influence the effectiveness of omega-3 supplementation on reducing PTB requires further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12613001142729.en© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.NEONATOLOGYNUTRITION & DIETETICSOBSTETRICSPUBLIC HEALTHHumansPremature BirthFatty Acids, Omega-3Fish OilsGestational AgePregnancyDietary SupplementsInfant, NewbornFemaleIdentifying women who may benefit from higher dose omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy to reduce their risk of prematurity: exploratory analyses from the ORIP trial.Journal article10.1136/bmjopen-2022-0702202023-05-02641409Yelland, L.N. [0000-0003-3803-8728]Sullivan, T.R. [0000-0002-6930-5406]Gibson, R.A. [0000-0002-8750-525X]Simmonds, L.A. [0000-0002-4795-5141]Best, K.P. [0000-0002-7653-5074]Makrides, M. [0000-0003-3832-541X]