Fish Consumption, Erythrocyte Fatty Acids, and Preterm Birth

To estimate the association between fish consumption and erythrocyte omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and preterm birth in a high-risk cohort. This was an ancillary study to a randomized trial of omega-3 supplementation to prevent preterm birth in women with at least one previous spontaneous preterm delivery. Dietary fish intake was assessed by questionnaire and erythrocyte fatty acids were measured at enrollment (16-21 completed weeks of gestation). The association between fish consumption and preterm delivery was modeled with linear and quadratic terms. The probability of preterm birth was 48.6% among women eating fish less than once a month and 35.9% among women eating fish more often (P