According to a major Australian study, pregnant mothers who take omega-3 fatty acid supplements to boost their baby’s brain power are probably wasting their time.

According to the study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers found no benefit after following more than 600 children from before they were born until the age of four.

According to them, there was no difference in the cognition, language or motor scores of children whose mothers took supplements and those who were given a placebo.

A placebo is an inactive, fake, or “dummy” medication or treatment designed to resemble a drug or treatment and given in the same way

According to the lead author of the study, Professor Maria Makrides of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the University of Adelaide,

“Given the amount of marketing that occurs around the use of fish oil supplements for brain development, these are significant findings,”

 

“Our research does not support prenatal DHA supplementation to enhance early-childhood development.”