Jaakkola Kristiina, Koivuniemi Ella, Hart Kathryn, Mazanowska Natalia, Roccaldo Romana, Censi Laura, Egan Bernadette, Mattila Lilja, Buonocore Pasquale, Löyttyniemi Eliisa, Raats Monique, Ruggeri Stefania, Wielgos Miroslaw, Laitinen Kirsi
Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Nutrition and Food Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Eur J Nutr. 2025 Apr 5;64(4):146. doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03654-5.
Fish oil and probiotic supplements may be of benefit during pregnancy, but no information on their use across geographically and socioeconomically diverse countries exists. Our aim was to investigate (1) usage of fish oil and probiotic food supplements by pregnant women, (2) awareness amongst pregnant women of the prevailing recommendations and (3) the characteristics of the users and their beliefs regarding potential health effects of food supplement use, and to compare these variables between women from four European countries.
The survey was carried out by online questionnaires (n = 1780) in Finland (n = 536), Italy (n = 539), Poland (n = 584), and the United Kingdom (UK) (n = 121). Product information of the supplements used was collected from participants (n = 1356).
Of the participants 49% (n = 670) used fish oil, and 10% (n = 132) used probiotic supplements. The median intake of DHA in the studied countries was 220 (IQR 200-600) mg/d. Users of these supplements were most likely from Finland and primiparous. Recommendations related to fish oil supplement use were most well-known in Poland, where over half knew that fish oil supplements are recommended to be consumed during pregnancy in Poland. Finnish women were most likely to know that there is no recommendation for pregnant women for use of probiotic supplements.
Half of the pregnant women used fish oil supplements, while probiotic use was less frequent. Not all pregnant women were familiar with the prevailing recommendations or potential health effects, which should be considered in the diet counselling provided during future health care visits.
鱼油和益生菌补充剂在孕期可能有益，但目前尚无关于其在不同地理和社会经济背景国家使用情况的信息。我们的目的是调查：（1）孕妇对鱼油和益生菌食品补充剂的使用情况；（2）孕妇对现行建议的知晓程度；（3）使用者的特征及其对食品补充剂潜在健康影响的看法，并比较来自四个欧洲国家的女性在这些变量上的差异。
通过在线问卷（n = 1780）在芬兰（n = 536）、意大利（n = 539）、波兰（n = 584）和英国（n = 121）进行调查。从参与者（n = 1356）处收集所使用补充剂的产品信息。
49%（n = 670）的参与者使用鱼油，10%（n = 132）的参与者使用益生菌补充剂。在所研究国家中，DHA的中位摄入量为220（四分位间距200 - 600）mg/天。这些补充剂的使用者最有可能来自芬兰且为初产妇。与鱼油补充剂使用相关的建议在波兰最为人所知，超过半数的波兰人知道在波兰孕期推荐食用鱼油补充剂。芬兰女性最有可能知道没有针对孕妇使用益生菌补充剂的推荐。
一半的孕妇使用鱼油补充剂，而益生菌的使用频率较低。并非所有孕妇都熟悉现行建议或潜在健康影响，在未来医疗保健就诊时提供饮食咨询时应考虑到这一点。
