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OBIMIN Pluz: DHA/EPASupplements for Pregnant Women

Low levels of DHA in our body have been associated with

mood swings, memory loss, visual problems and other

neurological conditions.

Importance of DHA & EPA inPregnancy

What is DHA & EPA?

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) andeicosapentaenic acid (EPA) is a formof long chain polyunsaturated essential

omega-3 fatty acids that is crucial forthe development and functioning of thebrain, eye and central nervous system.DHA is derived from dietry alpha-linolenic acid and is found in foods suchas fatty fish, organ meats and eggs.Unfortunately, majority of people aredeficient in this important nutrient.

Low levels of DHA in our body have

been associated with mood swings,memory loss, visual problems and otherneurological conditions. In addition,insufficient omega-3 fatty acids could

also increase the risks of heart disease.

Our bodies naturally produce smallamounts of DHA, hence we must getthe amounts we need from our diet orsupplements. People who limit meatand egg intake, such as vegetarians orthose on low-fat diets, are liable to have

low level of DHA.

Importance of DHA & EPA inpregnancy

A balanced diet is a basic part of goodhealth at all times in our life, especiallyduring pregnancy. DHA and EPA fattyacids are an important part of pre-nataldevelopment. Developing babies rely on

their mothers to get needed DHA. Since DHA is derivedfrom the foods we eat, the content of DHA in a mothersdiet determines the amount of DHA passed on to herdeveloping baby. If the mother is not properly nourished,the fetus will suffer.

A continual supply of DHA is needed for the full term ofthe pregnancy as the DHA content of the cerebrum andcerebellum increases threefold during the last trimester.Premature babies, who were born without the benefit ofmaternal DHA during the rapid brain growth phase of thelast trimester of pregnancy, scored average points loweron IQ tests than average full-term infants when testedlater in life.

During the last trimester of a pregnancy, the mother

transfers to her fetus much of the DHA needed for thedevelopment of its brain and nervous system. If a motherfails to get sufficient DHA in her diet, the fetus will use-up DHA that the mother has stored in her own tissue -including her brain.

Current research suggests adequate levels of DHA mayhelp increase a developing babys cognitive functioning,reduce the risk of pre-term labor and decrease the risk ofpostpartum depression.

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Foods that contain DHA & EPA

DHA is found in cold water fatty fish, including salmon,tuna (blue-fin tuna have up to five times more DHA than

other types of tuna), mackerel, sardines, shellfish, andherring. Although some of these fish contain low levels ofmercury, the Food and Drug Administration has found thatconsuming several servings of fish each week poses norisk to healthy people and conveys many health benefits.

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnantshould avoid Atlantic mackerel, shark, swordfish, andtilefish. They should also limit consumption of whitealbacore tuna to fewer than 6 oz. per week. (High-qualityfish oil supplements made by manufacturers who test formercury and other toxins do not pose the same risk ofmercury contamination. Read labels carefully and checkfor purity, or ask your doctor to help you find the bestquality DHA supplement.) Vegetarian sources of DHAcome from seaweed.

For infants, breast milk from a well-nourished mothercontains significant amounts of DHA, while infant formulamay not have any DHA. Read labels carefully to find abrand that does.

Supplement

Obimin Pluz is a DHA/EPA supplement for pregnantmothers. It contains 1,000 mcg of Folic Acid, 30 mgof Iron, 100mg of Calcium and 10mg of Vitamin C essential for healthy pre-natal development.

Folic Acid

- Essential for growth and cells division and plays animportant role in the formation of red blood cells.

- Protects against malformation of the spine (Spina bifida),skull and brain (anencephaly).

Iron

- Essential for producing extra blood needed by both

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mother and baby.

- Prenatal prophylactic iron supplementation significantlylowers the incidence of low-birth-weight and preterm low-

birth-weight babies.

Vitamin C

- Enhances Iron absorption.

Calcium

- Essential mineral for babys bone and teeth.

Things to consider before taking DHA & EPAsupplements

Blood Pressure Medication DHA may lower bloodpressure, so it could make the effects of prescription bloodpressure medication stronger.

Anticoagulants (blood thinners) EPA in fish oilsupplements may increase bleeding time, so fish oil couldmake the effects of these drugs stronger. The same doesnot appear to be true of DHA alone.

Diabetes medications Theoretically, fish oil supplementsmay lower levels of glucose in the blood and could makeeffects of diabetes drugs stronger. If you have diabetes,talk to your doctor before taking fish oil.

Aspirin In combination with aspirin, fish oil could behelpful in the treatment of some forms of coronary arterydisease. However, this combination may also increase

the risk of bleeding. Talk to your doctor to see if thiscombination is right for you.

Cyclosporine Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce someof the side effects associated with cyclosporine therapy,which is often used to reduce rejection in transplantrecipients. Talk to your doctor before adding any new herbsor supplements to your existing medication regimen.

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Considerations for Pregnant and BreastfeedingWomen.

But DHA supplements derived from fish oil are notrecommended for pregnant women and children fiveyears and younger, because fish oil contains fairly largeamounts of EPA and moderate amounts of DHA.

Algae supplements are the better source of DHA forchildren, pregnant and breastfeeding mother. Until recently,the primary source of DHA dietary supplements wasmarine fish oils, which supplies both eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and DHA. However, the development of a processof extract DHA straightly from ocean micro algae, the

food source of fish, has provided us with a natural sourceof DHA without EPA. Thus, it has made assessment ofthe separate dietary effects of single omega-3 fatty acidspossible.