Comprehensive biochemical analysis of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-based drug and biologically active additive composition for nutritional support of pregnancy

Introduction. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-PUFA) essential for female reproductive and somatic health exert a multi-faceted modulatory effect on metabolism of eicosanoids (including prostaglandins, lipoxins and leukotrienes) and docosanoids (neuroprotectins, resolvins, maresins).

Aim: to compare diverse ω3-PUFA samples assessing the degree of composition standardization for eicosapentaenoic (EPA) ω3-PUFA and docosahexaenoic (DHA) ω3-PUFA, as well as the degree of purification from fatty acid admixtures.

Materials and Methods. The work presents chromatographic analysis results for 10 ω3-PUFA-based preparations.

Results. The study allowed to reveal the compositional parameters for ω3-PUFA extracts, which can be used to distinguish between pharmaceutically standardized (Omacor, Femibion Natalcare-II, etc.) and less standardized ω3-PUFA preparations (Omeganol, Omegamama, etc.).

Conclusion. The more standardized preparation Femibion Natalcare-II is effective and safe for supporting reproductive function during pregnancy and for improving children’s neurological development. Omacor is a highly standardized preparation, however, not being officially approved for use in pregnant women.

1. Gromova O.A., Torshin I.Iu., Grishina T.R., Maliavskaia S.I. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in supporting pregnancy and fetal development: dosing considerations. [Omega-3-polinenasyshchennye zhirnye kisloty v podderzhke beremennosti i razvitiya ploda: voprosy dozirovaniya]. Ginekologiya. 2020;22(5):61–9. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.26442/20795696.2020.5.200423.

2. Torshin I.Yu., Gromova O.A., Garanin A.A. Analysis of fatty acid profiles of micronutrients and pharmaceuticals based on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid extracts from natural sources. [Analiz zhirnokislotnyh profilej mikronutrientnyh i farmacevticheskih preparatov na osnove ekstraktov omega-3 polinenasyshchennyh zhirnyh kislot iz prirodnyh istochnikov]. FARMAKOEKONOMIKA. Modern Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology. 2025;18(2):199–218. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17749/2070-4909/farmakoekonomika.2025.312.

3. Xiong Y., Li X., Liu J. et al. Omega-3 PUFAs slow organ aging through promoting energy metabolism. Pharmacol Res. 2024;208:107384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107384

4. Khan S.U., Lone A.N., Khan M.S. et al. Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;38:100997. https://doi.org/10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100997.

5. Denis I., Potier B., Heberden C., Vancassel S. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and brain aging. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2015;18(2):139–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000000141.

6. Thomsen B.J., Chow E.Y., Sapijaszko M.J. The potential uses of omega-3 fatty acids in dermatology: a review. J Cutan Med Surg. 2020;24(5):481–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/1203475420929925.

7. Mareev V.Yu. Report on the work of the Expert Council “Relevance of the use of ethyl esters of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA, 90%, 1 g) in post-infarction patients with concomitant cardiac pathology”. [Mareev V.Yu. Otchet o rabote Soveta ekspertov «Aktual'nost' primeneniya etilovyh efirov omega-3 polinenasyshchennyh zhirnyh kislot (ω-3 PNZhK, 90 %, 1 g) u postinfarktnyh pacientov s soputstvuyushchej kardiologicheskoj patologiej»]. Serdce: zhurnal dlya praktikuyushchih vrachej. 2016;15(4):301–4. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18087/rhj.2016.4.2260.

8. Torshin I.Yu., Gromova O.A., Kobalava Zh.D. Concerning the “repression” of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by adepts of evidence-based medicine. [O repressiyah ω-3 polinenasyshchennyh zhirnyh kislot adeptami dokazatel'noj mediciny]. FARMAKOEKONOMIKA. Modern Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology. 2019;12(2):91–114. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17749/2070-4909.2019.12.2.91-114.

9. Bjørklund G., Shanaida M., Lysiuk R. et al. Natural compounds and products from an anti-aging perspective. Molecules. 2022;27(20):7084. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27207084.

10. Tokumaru K., Imafuku T., Satoh T. et al. Omega 3 fatty acids attenuate the acute kidney injury to CKD transition and renal fibrosis: identification of antifibrotic metabolites. Kidney360. 2024;5(10):1422–34. https://doi.org/10.34067/KID.0000000574.

11. Garanin A.A., Bogacheva T.E., Gromova O.A. Ferroptosis and aging. [Ferroptoz i starenie]. Farmakokinetika i Farmakodinamika. 2025;(1):17–26. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37489/2587-7836-2025-1-17-26.

12. Szucs K.F., Vigh D., Mirdamadi S. et al. Omega-3 fatty acid consumption alters uterine contraction: a comparative study on different breeds of rats. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(11):5221. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115221.

13. Li W.J., Lu J.W., Zhang C.Y. et al. PGE2 vs PGF2α in human parturition. Placenta. 2021;104:208–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2020.12.012.

14. Hashimoto M., Makino N., Inazumi T. et al. Effects of an ω3 fatty acid-biased diet on luteolysis, parturition, and uterine prostanoid synthesis in pregnant mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2022;589:139–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.029.

15. Arntzen K.J., Brekke O.L., Vatten L., Austgulen R. Reduced production of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha from decidual cell cultures supplemented with N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 1998;56(2–3):183–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0090-6980(98)00048-3.

16. Torshin I.Yu., Gromova O.A., Zaychik B.Ts., Ruzhitsky A.O. Comprehensive study of the composition of fish fat extracts and quantitative criteria for distinguishing standardized omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids extracts. [Kompleksnoe issledovanie sostava ekstraktov zhira ryb i kolichestvennye kriterii dlya razlicheniya standartizirovannyh ekstraktov omega-3 polinenasyshchennyh zhirnyh kislot]. Kardiologiya. 2020;60(5):47–56. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18087/cardio.2020.5.n1053.

17. Cholewski M., Tomczykowa M., Tomczyk M. A comprehensive review of chemistry, sources and bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acids. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1662. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10111662.

18. Sciotto C., Mjøs S.A. Trans isomers of EPA and DHA in omega-3 products on the European market. Lipids. 2012;47(7):659–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-012-3672-3.

19. Gromova O.A., Torshin I.Yu., Kobalava Zh.D. et al. Deficit of magnesium and states of hypercoagulation: intellectual analysis of data obtained from a sample of patients aged 18–50 years from medical and preventive facilities in Russia. [Deficit magniya i giperkoagulyacionnye sostoyaniya: metricheskij analiz dannyh vyborki pacientov 18-50 let lechebno-profilakticheskih uchrezhdenij Rossii]. Kardiologiya. 2018;58(4):22–35. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18087/cardio.2018.4.10106.

20. Torshin I.Yu., Gromova O.A., Tetruashvili N.K. et al. Metric analysis of comorbidity ratios between miscarriage, endometriosis, menstrual disorders, and micronutrient provision in screening reproductive-aged women. [Metricheskij analiz sootnoshenij komorbidnosti mezhdu nevynashivaniem, endometriozom, narusheniyami menstrual'nogo cikla i mikronutrientnoj obespechennost'yu v skrininge zhenshchin reproduktivnogo vozrasta]. Akusherstvo i ginekologiya. 2019;(5):156–68. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.18565/aig.2019.5.156-16819.

21. Torshin I.Yu., Gromova O.A., Stakhovskaya L.V. et al. Analysis of 19.9 million publications from the PubMed/MEDLINE database using artificial intelligence methods: approaches to the generalizations of accumulated data and the phenomenon of “fake news”. [Analiz 19,9 mln publikacij bazy dannyh PubMed/MEDLINE metodami iskusstvennogo intellekta: podhody k obobshcheniyu nakoplennyh dannyh i fenomen “fake news”]. FARMAKOEKONOMIKA. Modern Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology. 2020;13(2):146–63. https://doi.org/10.17749/2070-4909/farmakoekonomika.2020.021163. (In Russ.).

22. Ghebremeskel K., Min Y., Crawford M.A et al. Blood fatty acid composition of pregnant and nonpregnant Korean women: red cells may act as a reservoir of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid for utilization by the developing fetus. Lipids. 2000;35(5):567–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-557-3.