Table 1

Baseline characteristics of women for singleton pregnancies included in the analysis by treatment group

CharacteristicOmega-3 (N=2654)Control (N=2674)
Consumed omega-3 containing supplements in previous 3 months: n/N (%)356/2654 (13.4)357/2674 (13.4)
Maternal age: median (IQR)30.0 (26.0–34.0)30.0 (27.0–33.0)
Gestational age (weeks) at trial entry: median (IQR)14.1 (12.7–16.4)14.2 (12.7–16.6)
White race: n/N (%)1965/2649 (74.2)1969/2669 (73.8)
Completed high school education: n/N (%)2153/2644 (81.4)2128/2667 (79.8)
Currently employed: n/N (%)1921/2643 (72.7)1920/2665 (72.0)
Weight at trial entry (kg): median (IQR)69.4 (60.6–81.1)69.0 (60.9–81.0)
Smoked cigarettes leading up to pregnancy: n/N (%)404/2639 (15.3)407/2665 (15.3)
Drank alcohol leading up to pregnancy: n/N (%)1446/2642 (54.7)1505/2666 (56.5)
Any previous births ≥20 weeks: n/N (%)1473/2643 (55.7)1502/2666 (56.3)
ALA: median (IQR)0.5 (0.4–0.7)0.6 (0.4–0.7)
EPA: median (IQR)0.5 (0.4–0.6)0.5 (0.4–0.6)
DPA: median (IQR)1.0 (0.9–1.1)1.0 (0.9–1.1)
DHA: median (IQR)2.7 (2.3–3.1)2.7 (2.3–3.1)
EPA+DHA: median (IQR)3.2 (2.8–3.6)3.2 (2.7–3.7)
Total omega-3: median (IQR)4.8 (4.3–5.3)4.8 (4.3–5.3)
  • Total omega-3 is the sum of ALA, EPA, DPA and DHA.

  • ALA, alpha-linolenic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; DPA, docosapentaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; IQR, interquartile range.