Abstract
ObjectiveTo analyze serum fatty acids concentrations during healthy pregnancy and evaluate whether socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, nutritional, anthropometric and lifestyle factors are associated with their longitudinal changes.Study designA prospective cohort of 225 pregnant women was followed in the 5th–13th, 20th–26th and 30th–36th weeks of gestation. Serum samples were collected in each trimester of pregnancy and analyzed to determine the fatty acids composition using a high-throughput robotic direct methylation method coupled with fast gas-liquid chromatography. The independent variables comprised the subjects’ socioeconomic and demographic status, obstetric history, early pregnancy body mass index (BMI), dietary and lifestyle parameters. Analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models.ResultsThe overall absolute concentrations of fatty acids increased from the 1st to the 2nd trimester and slightly increased from the 2nd to the 3rd trimester. Early pregnancy BMI, inter-partum interval and weekly fish intake were the factors associated with changes in eicosapentaenoic + docosahexaenoic acids (EPA+DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Early pregnancy BMI, age and monthly per-capita income were inversely associated with the changes in the n-6/n-3 ratio. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with the n-6/n-3 ratio.ConclusionEarly pregnancy BMI was positively associated with EPA+DHA and total n-3 PUFAs, while presenting a reduced weekly fish intake and a lower inter-partum interval were associated with lower levels of n-3 PUFAs. A lower per-capita family income and a drinking habit were factors that were positively associated with a higher n-6/n-3 ratio.
Highlights
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 n-3) and linoleic acid (LA; 18:2 n-6), are essential nutrients and their derivatives docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid and the arachidonic acid (AA), respectively, play important roles in the development and functioning of the fetal central nervous system and retina [1,2]
Pregnancy body mass index (BMI), inter-partum interval and weekly fish intake were the factors associated with changes in eicosapentaenoic + docosahexaenoic acids (EPA+DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Pregnancy BMI was positively associated with EPA+DHA and total n-3 PUFAs, while presenting a reduced weekly fish intake and a lower inter-partum interval were associated with lower levels of n-3 PUFAs
Summary
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 n-3) and linoleic acid (LA; 18:2 n-6), are essential nutrients and their derivatives docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid and the arachidonic acid (AA), respectively, play important roles in the development and functioning of the fetal central nervous system and retina [1,2]. In this line, maternal serum (total n-3 PUFAs and the n-6/n-3 ratio) and erythrocyte fatty acids composition (DHA and AA) have been associated with the development of children during the fetal period and during childhood [3,4]. A study with 987 patients with coronary disease showed that family income and education were positively associated with red blood cell DHA and EPA concentrations [14]
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