Abstract
Omega (n)-3 fatty acids are vital to neonatal maturation, and recent investigations reveal n-3 fatty acids serve as substrates for the biosynthesis of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM) that have anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects. The role SPM play in the protection against negative maternal-fetal health outcomes is unclear, and there are no current biomarkers of n-3 fatty acid sufficiency. We sought to ascertain the relationships between n-3 fatty acid intake, SPM levels, and maternal-fetal health outcomes. We obtained n-3 fatty acid intake information from 136 mothers admitted for delivery using a food frequency questionnaire and measured docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-derived SPMs resolvin D1 (RvD1) and RvD2 in maternal and cord plasma. We found significantly elevated SPM in maternal versus cord plasma, and increased SPM levels were associated with at-risk outcomes. We also identified that increased DHA intake was associated with elevated maternal plasma RvD1 (p = 0.03; R2 = 0.18) and RvD2 (p = 0.04; R2 = 0.20) in the setting of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. These findings indicate that increased n-3 fatty acid intake may provide increased substrate for the production of SPM during high-risk pregnancy/delivery conditions, and that increased maternal plasma SPM could serve as a biomarker for negative neonatal outcomes.
Highlights
The health benefits of diets high in omega-3 fatty acids are well established, including in the context of maternal-fetal health [1,2,3,4,5]
Admission upon delivery and preterm delivery, with increases in these negative outcomes associated with maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake. These findings suggest that increased n-3 fatty acid intake may provide increased substrate for specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM) production during high-risk pregnancy/delivery conditions and increased maternal plasma SPM could serve as a biomarker for these at-risk conditions
When comparing SPM levels in in mothers who responded to an Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) including DHA intake data, we identified that in mothers mothers who responded to an FFQ including DHA intake data, we identified that in mothers whose whose infant was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) upon delivery, there was a positive association between infant was admitted to the NICU upon delivery, there was a positive association between increased increased DHA intake and maternal plasma resolvin D1 (RvD1) and RvD2 levels (Figure 5A,C), but not in mothers
Summary
The health benefits of diets high in omega-3 fatty acids are well established, including in the context of maternal-fetal health [1,2,3,4,5]. SPM are primarily derived from the omega (n)-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; producing the resolvin D [RvD]-, maresin-, and protectin- series SPM) and eicosapentaenoic acid (producing the resolvin E [RvE]-series SPM), while the lipoxin series of SPM are derived from n-6 fatty acids [8] Preclinical investigations reveal these SPM potently limit inflammatory processes and promote tissue restitution while having immune-stimulatory and protective effects against infection [6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. Infants transitioned from a soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (SOLE) to a fish oil-based lipid emulsion (FOLE; high in n-3 fatty acids) exhibit increased anti-inflammatory, pro-resolving lipid mediator production [16]. These findings indicate an important biological role for SPM in infant health [17]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
