Omega-3 Test & Treat Program

The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and SA Pathology are partnering to offer omega-3 testing for women with singleton pregnancies as part of the South Australian Maternal Serum Antenatal Screening (SAMSAS) program.

The free test identifies women who are low in omega-3 and may benefit from omega-3 supplementation to reduce their risk of preterm birth.

By focusing on prevention and providing evidence-based recommendations, the project aims to make a substantial impact in reducing the occurrence of preterm births in South Australia and potentially serve as a model for other regions.

Addressing early preterm birth (birth before 34 weeks gestation) is crucial to improve infant health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs associated with premature births, and alleviate the emotional and physical burden on families.

Through the implementation of the Omega-3 program and the subsequent policy and guideline changes informed by the project's findings, the goal is to significantly reduce the rate of early preterm births. 

Key achievements of the project thus far include:

• Contributed new evidence demonstrating that omega-3 supplements are a cheap and effective intervention to help prevent premature birth.
• Developed and implemented the 'Omega-3 Test-and-Treat Program' in SA, offering free testing of omega-3 levels for pregnant women and providing tailored advice based on the results.
• Engaged with over 15,000 women to have their omega-3 status tested and receive tailored advice.
• Informed policy changes in national pregnancy care guidelines.
• Informed international pregnancy guidelines to recommend daily omega-3 supplementation.
• Developed a new sustainable vegan omega-3 supplement in collaboration with Pharmamark.