Essential fatty acids and their long-chain polyunsaturated metabolites in maternal and cord plasma triglycerides during late gestation

Biol Neonate. 2000 Feb;77(2):96-100. doi: 10.1159/000014201.

Abstract

The fatty acid composition of plasma lipids was determined in 41 pairs of mothers and their term infants at time of birth (38-42 postmenstrual weeks) by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids were found at smaller concentrations in cord than in maternal triglycerides, in contrast to strikingly higher proportions of their long-chain polyunsaturated metabolites (LC-PUFA), which indicates a preferential maternofetal transport for certain physiologically important LC-PUFA. While no significant gestational age-dependent changes occurred in maternal plasma triglycerides, the values for most of the fetal long-chain n-3 metabolites increased with the duration of gestation, possibly reflecting an increased transplacental fatty acid passage during late pregnancy or a maturation of desaturation in the fetal liver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Birth Weight
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / blood*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / blood*
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry*
  • Gestational Age*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Linoleic Acid / blood
  • Pregnancy
  • Triglycerides / blood*
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid / blood

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Essential
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Triglycerides
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid
  • Linoleic Acid