Trans fatty acids and birth outcome: some first results of the MEFAB and ABCD cohorts.

Using data from two longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohorts in the Netherlands, the potential influence of trans fatty acids (TFA) on fetal development was investigated by multiple regression analysis. After adjustment for a large number of potential confounders, birth length (BL) and head circumference (HC) were significantly and negatively related to the C18:1trans concentration in phospholipids isolated from umbilical plasma (HC), umbilical arterial walls (HC and BL), or umbilical venous walls (BL). A significant and negative relationship was also observed between birth weight and the C18:1trans concentration in maternal plasma phospholipids at early pregnancy, but this attenuated upon correction for potential confounders. These results indicate that TFA may compromise fetal development.