P0115 PP INVERSE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TRANS ISOMERIC AND LONG-CHAIN POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE LIPIDS IN EXPECTING WOMEN

Abstract

Introduction: Inverse associations were reported between values of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and values of trans fatty acids both in cord blood plasma lipids and in umbilical blood vessel wall lipids (Decsi et al., Am J Clin Nutr 74: 364–368, 2001 and Lipids 37: 959–965, 2002). It was speculated that the inverse association seen at birth should have its origin in the maternal fatty acid status, but the question has not been explicitly addressed as yet. Methods: Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane phospatidylcholine lipids was determined by high- resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography at the 20th week of gestation in expecting women living in Germany (n = 23), Hungary (n = 34) and Spain (n = 44). Results: The sum of trans isomeric fatty acids was significantly (P <0.01) higher in Spanish (0.71 [0.32], % wt/wt, median [IQR]) than in German (0.49 [0.24]) and Hungarian (0.56 [0.34]) mothers. No correlation was found between trans isomers and LC-PUFA in erythrocyte membrane lipids in German and Hungarian mothers. In Spanish mothers, there was no correlation between trans fatty acids versus linoleic acid (15.96 [3.90]) and alphalinolenic acid (0.08 [0.11]) (table). In contrast, trans hexadecenoic acid (C16:1t, 0.20 [0.15]), trans octadecenoic acid (C18:1t, 0.36 [0.18]) and the sum of trans isomeric fatty acids were significantly inversely correlated to both arachidonic acid (7.92 [4.37]) and docosahexaenoic acid (2.50 [1.76]) (table).Table 1: Correlation coefficients between fatty acids in PC lipids in expecting womenConclusion: 1. In this study, significant inverse associations were found between LC-PUFA and trans fatty acids in erythrocyte membrane lipids in expecting women. 2. This observation supports the concept that maternal trans fatty acid intake may be inversely associated to the LC-PUFA status of the foetus. 3. Among three groups of women investigated, the inverse association between trans fatty acids and LC-PUFA was seen only in the group with the highest erythrocyte membrane trans fatty acid values.