AIM: To assess the modifications of the main fatty acids (FA) in plasma and red blood cells during pregnancy. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 36 normal pregnant women was carried out with 3 cut-off points: first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. 14 FA in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids were measured using capillary gas chromatography. Measurements were expressed in percentages and in absolute values. RESULTS: In plasma there was a significant increase in the proportion of saturated FA and a decrease in the proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) both in the omega 6 (omega 6) and omega 3 (omega 3) series. On the other hand, in erythrocyte phospholipids there was a decrease in the proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid and an increase in that of docosahexaenoic acid. In the omega 6 series, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid increased, whereas the omega 6 docosapentaenoic acid decreased. CONCLUSION: There was a significant decrease in the proportion of omega 3 PUFA in plasma from the first to the third trimester. Thus, it is suggested that the omega 3 PUFA intake during pregnancy should be increased in the last trimester.
AIM: To assess the modifications of the main fatty acids (FA) in plasma and red blood cells during pregnancy. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 36 normal pregnant women was carried out with 3 cut-off points: first trimester, second trimester and third trimester. 14 FA in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids were measured using capillary gas chromatography. Measurements were expressed in percentages and in absolute values. RESULTS: In plasma there was a significant increase in the proportion of saturated FA and a decrease in the proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) both in the omega 6 (omega 6) and omega 3 (omega 3) series. On the other hand, in erythrocyte phospholipids there was a decrease in the proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid and an increase in that of docosahexaenoic acid. In the omega 6 series, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid increased, whereas the omega 6 docosapentaenoic acid decreased. CONCLUSION: There was a significant decrease in the proportion of omega 3 PUFA in plasma from the first to the third trimester. Thus, it is suggested that the omega 3 PUFA intake during pregnancy should be increased in the last trimester.
Authors: Roseli de Souza Santos da Costa; Flavia da Silva Santos; Felipe Domingues da Conceição; Claudia Saunders; Fatima Lúcia de Carvalho Sardinha; Célia Regina Moutinho de Miranda Chaves; Maria da Graças Tavares do Carmo Journal: Lipids Date: 2011-03-16 Impact factor: 1.880
Authors: S M A Donahue; S L Rifas-Shiman; S F Olsen; D R Gold; M W Gillman; E Oken Journal: Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids Date: 2009-04-19 Impact factor: 4.006