Ms. Scott is right that this new advice is contrary to current practices and might increase the ingestion of fish contaminated with mercury, which is toxic to the fetus.

However, there is mounting evidence that omega-3 fatty acids (present in fish) are important for the developing brain and eye of the fetus and the infant.

There is also evidence that increasing omega-3 in the diet of pregnant women will increase the length of their pregnancy and decrease pre-term delivery.

However, the omega-3 fatty acid content is low in the diet of pregnant women and nursing mothers in the United States.

There is now a readily available source of omega-3 that is not derived from fish, but from algae. Algae-derived omega-3 is free of contamination, is safe and does not harm either the mother or the baby.

In addition, algae-derived omega-3 fatty acid is added to most infant formula in America, is FDA approved and has been studied extensively.

Talkad S. Raghuveer, MD
Associate professor of pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Kansas City, Kan.