Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during pregnancy has been recommended by several health organizations due to its role in neural, visual, and cognitive development. There are several fat sources available on the market for the manufacture of these dietary supplements with DHA. These fat sources differ in the lipid structure in which DHA is esterified, mainly phospholipids (PL) and triglycerides (TG) molecules. The supplementation of DHA in the form of PL or TG during pregnancy can lead to controversial results depending on the animal model, physiological status and the fat sources utilized. The intestinal digestion, placental uptake, and fetal accretion of DHA may vary depending on the lipid source of DHA ingested by the mother. The form of DHA used in maternal supplementation that would provide an optimal DHA accretion for fetal brain development, based on the available data obtained most of them from different animal models, indicates no consistent differences in fetal accretion when DHA is provided as TG or PL. Other related lipid species are under evaluation, e.g., lyso-phospholipids, with promising results to improve DHA bioavailability although more studies are needed. In this review, the evidence on DHA bioavailability and accumulation in both maternal and fetal tissues after the administration of DHA supplementation during pregnancy in the form of PL or TG in different models is summarized.
Highlights
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Intake during the Perinatal PeriodOmega-3 fatty acids (FA) intake had fallen during the 20th century; the development of the modern vegetable oil industry, the use of cereal grains and the change in eating habits have
Introduction and Asim KDuttaroyThere is a growing interest in the effects of maternal diet consumed during pregnancy on both development and fetal programming of many physiological functions
Intestinal digestion, reesterification in both gut enterocytes and liver, as well as placental transfer processes reduce the impact of the dietary intervention with different lipid sources on fetal Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Summary
Omega-3 FA intake had fallen during the 20th century; the development of the modern vegetable oil industry, the use of cereal grains and the change in eating habits have.
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