Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are required to maintain the fluidity, permeability and integrity of cell membranes. Maternal dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFAs during pregnancy has beneficial effects, including increased gestational length and reduced risk of pregnancy complications. Significant amounts of ω-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are transferred from maternal to fetal blood, hence ensuring high levels of DHA in the placenta and fetal bloodstream and tissues. Fetal DHA demand increases exponentially with gestational age, especially in the third trimester, due to fetal development. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a daily intake of DHA is recommended during pregnancy. Omega-3 PUFAs are involved in several anti-inflammatory, pro-resolving and anti-oxidative pathways. Several placental disorders, such as intrauterine growth restriction, premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm-PROM (pPROM), are associated with placental inflammation and oxidative stress. This pilot study reports on a preliminary evaluation of the significance of the daily DHA administration on PROM and pPROM events in healthy pregnant women. Further extensive clinical trials will be necessary to fully elucidate the correlation between DHA administration during pregnancy and PROM/pPROM occurrence, which is related in turn to gestational duration and overall fetal health.
Highlights
Fatty acids (FAs) that contain more than one double bond in their backbone are known as polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs)
Another protective effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on amniochorial membranes is suggested by studies on erythrocyte resistance; the enrichment of the red cell membrane in ω-3 FAs leads to an increase in the total unsaturation index, erythrocyte resistance to hemolysis, and cell membrane fluidity [29,30,31]
We have considered in a small-scale pilot study the effects of DHA supplementation on Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) levels during pregnancy and its effect on rupture of membrane (ROM) incidence and gestational duration
Summary
Emanuela Pietrantoni 1, Federica Del Chierico 2, Giuliano Rigon 1, Pamela Vernocchi 2,3, Guglielmo Salvatori 4, Melania Manco 5, Fabrizio Signore 1 and Lorenza Putignani 6,*. Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research-CIRI-AGRIFOOD, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Piazza Goidanich, 60, Cesena-FC 47521, Italy. Unit of Parasitology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy. Received: 17 March 2014; in revised form: 24 April 2014 / Accepted: 29 April 2014 /
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