Fish-eating boosts foetal size says study

LONDON - Eating lots of fish in the later stage of pregnancy can increase foetus growth but does not prolong the pregnancy, British scientists say.

In a study of more than 11,580 women they found that the more fish the women ate at 32 weeks into their pregnancy, the lower the rate of restricted growth in the baby. "These results lend some support to the hypothesis that raising fish or omega-three fatty acids intake during pregnancy may increase foetal growth rate," Dr Imogen Rogers, of the University of Bristol in southwestern England, said in a report published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Fish are a rich source of omega-three fatty acids which are essential for cell function. The acids are also found in canola oil, flaxseed and flaxseed oil and nuts.

Restricted foetal growth occurs in about one in 10 pregnancies but in women who ate no fish towards the end of their pregnancy it rose to one in eight.

- REUTERS