Longitudinal Associations of Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Pregnancy with Neonatal Anthropometry: Results from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singleton Cohort.

Emily Wang,Yeyi Zhu,Zhen Chen,Michael Y Tsai,Jiaxi Yang,Rana F Chehab,Andrew A Bremer,Natalie L Weir,Jing Wu,Cuilin Zhang,Stefanie N Hinkle

doi:10.3390/nu14030592

Abstract

Despite increasing interest in the health effects of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), their roles in fetal and neonatal growth remain understudied. Within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies—Singleton Cohort, we prospectively investigated the associations of individual and subclasses of plasma phospholipid PUFAs at gestational weeks (GW) 10–14, 15–26, 23–31, and 33–39 with neonatal anthropometric measures as surrogates for fetal growth among 107 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 214 non-GDM controls. Multivariable weighted linear regression models estimated the associations between plasma phospholipid PUFAs and neonatal anthropometric measures. Adjusted beta coefficients for phospholipid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per standard deviation (SD) increase at GW 23–31 in association with birthweight z-score, neonatal length, and neonatal fat mass were 0.25 (95% CI: 0.08–0.41), 0.57 (0.11–1.03) cm, and 54.99 (23.57–86.42) g, respectively; all false discovery rates (FDRs) < 0.05. Estimated Δ5-desaturase activity per SD increase at GW 33–39 but not at other time points was positively associated with birthweight z-score: 0.29 (95% CI: 0.08–0.33); neonatal length: 0.61 (0.29–0.94) cm; and neonatal fat mass: 32.59 (8.21–56.96) g; all FDRs < 0.05. Longitudinal analysis showed consistent results. Our findings suggest that mid-to-late pregnancy presented as critical windows for primarily diet-derived DHA and Δ5-desaturase activity in relation to neonatal anthropometric measures.

Highlights

Optimal intake of nutrients during pregnancy is important for growth and development in utero and in the prenatal period and later life [1–3]
We further explored whether pre-pregnancy obesity status modified the associations of individual plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) and PUFA ratios with neonatal anthropometric measures
The sum of n-3 PUFA levels at gestational week 23–31 was significantly and positively associated with birthweight z-score and neonatal fat mass, both false discovery rates (FDRs) < 0.05, mostly driven by the significant associations between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and neonatal anthropometric measures

Summary

Introduction

Optimal intake of nutrients during pregnancy is important for growth and development in utero and in the prenatal period and later life [1–3]. Despite the fact that maternal glucose is the dominant fuel source for the fetus [4], it is not the sole driver of fetal development [5]. Other contributors, such as maternal lipids, are available to the fetus due to the presence of placental lipoprotein receptors, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty-acid-binding protein, suggesting the need to further evaluate the role of diverse maternal fuels in birth outcomes [6,7]. Data on the associations of maternal plasma phospholipid PUFA composition in pregnancy with neonatal birth size and adiposity have been limited and inconsistent [16,17]

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