Abstract
To analyze the fatty acids (FA) concentrations in the maternal plasma of pregnant women with placental insufficiency, and to compare with high risk pregnancies with normal placental function. A prospective cross-sectional study with following inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancy, fetus alive; above 26 weeks gestation; diagnosis of placental insufficiency characterized by abnormal umbilical artery Doppler (PI > 95p); absence of fetal abnormalities or diabetes, without omega n-3 supplementation. Maternal blood samples were collected at the day of delivery. Total FA were determined in maternal and fetal plasma. Samples were processed using direct esterification and their composition was determined by gas chromatography. Results were expressed as % of total FA. We included 21 pregnant women in the study group with placental insufficiency and 21 pregnant women in the control group. No difference was found in the median BMI (study group = 26.5kg/m2,control group = 28.0kg/m2,p = 0.563). Percentage values of saturated FA among mothers from the placental insufficiency group were significantly higher than controls (median 44.9% vs.41.4%,p = 0.02), whereas total polyunsaturated FA were significantly reduced (median29.5% vs.32.9%,p = 0.02). There was no difference in the total monounsaturated FA between the groups (median24.4% vs.24.2%,p = 0.55). The analysis of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated FA in the maternal circulation, we found lower concentrations of n-3 in the group with placental insufficiency than controls (median0.88% vs.1.07%,p = 0.04), and no differences between groups regarding n-6 levels (median 27.9% vs. 28.7%,p = 0.62). In an apparently well-nourished population with placental insufficiency we found alterations in maternal plasma content of FA. Growth restricted fetuses are at high risk to have neurodevelopmental impairment and reduced concentrations of n-3 in maternal circulation may contribute to adverse perinatal outcome.
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