Abstract
BackgroundDuring pregnancy a high amount of fatty acids (FA) is necessary to meet foetus demands, which vary during gestation. The present study describes the changes in maternal fatty acid concentrations during pregnancy in a sample of pregnant women.MethodsThis is a longitudinal study of 479 pregnant women who were monitored from the first trimester to third trimester of pregnancy. Data on maternal characteristics were recorded and a serum sample was collected in each trimester. The fatty acid profile (saturated (SFA: total, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid), monounsaturated (MUFA: total, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA: total omega-6 (n-6), linoleic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid (AA), total omega-3 (n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) was analysed with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combination.ResultsFrom the first trimester to third trimester of pregnancy, a significant increase in total SFA, total MUFA and total n-6 PUFA was found. (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, the serum concentration of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and total n-3 PUFA decreased during gestation (p < 0.001). A statistically non-significant result was observed for the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) serum concentration between the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Significant correlations were observed between each total fatty acid concentrations of the first and third trimesters.ConclusionThe circulating serum concentration of SFA, MUFA and n-6 PUFA increases during pregnancy, whereas essential fatty acids such as AA and EPA decrease, and DHA remains unchanged. Further research is necessary to understand the role played by FA throughout gestation.
Highlights
A good nutritional status of fatty acids (FA) during pregnancy is important for the mother’s health in order to meet the needs of foetal growth and development.Studies evaluating the effects of FA deficiency states during pregnancy have mainly focused on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)
It is known that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are two of the most important FA for the cognitive and visual
Participants’ characteristics The biochemical profiles of the FA in the first and third trimesters were analysed in 479 pregnant women
Summary
Studies evaluating the effects of FA deficiency states during pregnancy have mainly focused on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). A maternal deficiency of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may affect placental angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, thereby affecting foetal development (brain, muscle, eye, motor nerve and adiposity) [1]. Maternal fatty acid status is crucial in late pregnancy because this is when the human foetal brain grows rapidly and high amounts of DHA accumulates in it [1, 5]. An appropriate balance with n-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) is necessary [11, 12] because a high concentration of maternal arachidonic acid (AA) has been associated with deleterious outcomes, such as major depression in the mother [13, 14], or preterm delivery [15]. The present study describes the changes in maternal fatty acid concentrations during pregnancy in a sample of pregnant women
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