Blue fish intake and percentual levels of polyunsaturated plasmatic fatty acids at labor in the mother and the newborn infant.

Abstract

To assess the relationship between maternal blue fish intake during pregnancy and n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid percentual levels in the mother and the newborn infant. Retrospective dietetic investigation at labor regarding fatty fish intake and blind plasma fatty acid analysis. Patients participants: 35 mothers and their newborn infants were studied in the Academic tertiary hospital. Mothers were classified in "blue fish high intake" group (blue fish intake > 35 g/day), intermediate intake group (12-35 g/day) and low intake group (< 12 g/day). Eleven fatty acids were analysed in plasma by means of gas chromatography. Percentual arachidonic acid levels were lower in "blue fish high intake" group mothers. Regarding the newborn infants, no differences were found concerning maternal intake. In the "intermediate intake" group of mothers, a correlation was found for maternal and fetal levels in the following fatty acids: myristic, linoleic and linolenic acids, as well as in the sum of n-6 fatty acids. Although blue fish intake influences maternal plasma levels of arachidonic acid, it does not play a decisive role in either maternal or fetal eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acid levels. Other factors need to be considered such as n-6/n-3 metabolic interaction, other nutrient composition and especially the role of placenta and fetal liver in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids.