See Ling Loy1,2, Michelle Jia Hui Ng3, Yin Bun Cheung4,5, Keith M Godfrey6,7,8, Philip C Calder7,8, Ngee Lek3,2, Fabian Yap3,2,9, Falk Müller-Riemenschneider10,11, Padmapriya Natarajan12, Yap-Seng Chong12,13, Kok Hian Tan14, Lynette Pei-Chi Shek15,16, Mary Foong-Fong Chong10,13,17, Jerry Kok Yen Chan18,2. 1. Departments of Reproductive Medicine. 2. Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. 3. Paediatrics and. 4. Center for Quantitative Medicine. 5. Tampere Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. 6. Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and. 7. Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom. 8. National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom. 9. Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. 10. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and. 11. Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany. 12. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and. 13. Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences and. 14. Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. 15. Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 16. Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore. 17. Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; and. 18. Departments of Reproductive Medicine, jerrychan@duke-nus.edu.sg.
Abstract
Background: Studies have demonstrated associations between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and adiposity. It is unclear whether PUFAs in pregnancy have an effect on maternal weight retention after childbirth, which can contribute to long-term obesity.Objective: We examined the association of maternal plasma PUFAs in pregnancy with 18-mo postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in a multiethnic Asian cohort.Design: We studied pregnant women (n = 653) recruited between June 2009 and September 2010 from a prospective cohort. At 26-28 wk of gestation, plasma phosphatidylcholine PUFA concentrations were measured and determined as percentages of total fatty acids (FAs). PPWR was calculated based on the difference between measured weight at the first antenatal clinic visit and at 18 mo postpartum. Results: The median retained weight of women was 0.90 kg (IQR: -1.40, 3.25) at 18 mo postpartum. Of 653 women, 544 women (83.3%) had PPWR of <5 kg and 109 (16.7%) had PPWR of ≥5 kg. In adjusted linear regression models, higher plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total ω-3 (n-3) PUFA concentrations were associated with lower PPWR [EPA: β = -0.62 kg/1% increase of total FAs (95% CI: -1.18, -0.05); DHA: β = -0.24 kg/1% increase (95% CI: -0.45, -0.02); total ω-3 PUFAs: β = -0.20 kg/1% increase (95% CI: -0.36, -0.03)], whereas a higher ratio of plasma ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFAs was associated with a higher PPWR [β = 0.21 kg/unit increase (95% CI: 0.05, 0.36)].Conclusions: Higher plasma percentages of ω-3 PUFAs and a lower ratio of ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFAs in the late-second trimester of pregnancy are associated with less weight retention at 18 mo postpartum. This may offer an alternative strategy to assist postpartum weight reduction by increasing EPA and DHA status together with a decreased ratio of ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFA through diet or fish-oil supplementation during pregnancy. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01174875.
Background: Studies have demonstrated associations between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and adiposity. It is unclear whether PUFAs in pregnancy have an effect on maternal weight retention after childbirth, which can contribute to long-term obesity.Objective: We examined the association of maternal plasma PUFAs in pregnancy with 18-mo postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in a multiethnic Asian cohort.Design: We studied pregnant women (n = 653) recruited between June 2009 and September 2010 from a prospective cohort. At 26-28 wk of gestation, plasma phosphatidylcholine PUFA concentrations were measured and determined as percentages of total fatty acids (FAs). PPWR was calculated based on the difference between measured weight at the first antenatal clinic visit and at 18 mo postpartum. Results: The median retained weight of women was 0.90 kg (IQR: -1.40, 3.25) at 18 mo postpartum. Of 653 women, 544 women (83.3%) had PPWR of <5 kg and 109 (16.7%) had PPWR of ≥5 kg. In adjusted linear regression models, higher plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total ω-3 (n-3) PUFA concentrations were associated with lower PPWR [EPA: β = -0.62 kg/1% increase of total FAs (95% CI: -1.18, -0.05); DHA: β = -0.24 kg/1% increase (95% CI: -0.45, -0.02); total ω-3 PUFAs: β = -0.20 kg/1% increase (95% CI: -0.36, -0.03)], whereas a higher ratio of plasma ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFAs was associated with a higher PPWR [β = 0.21 kg/unit increase (95% CI: 0.05, 0.36)].Conclusions: Higher plasma percentages of ω-3 PUFAs and a lower ratio of ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFAs in the late-second trimester of pregnancy are associated with less weight retention at 18 mo postpartum. This may offer an alternative strategy to assist postpartum weight reduction by increasing EPA and DHA status together with a decreased ratio of ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFA through diet or fish-oil supplementation during pregnancy. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01174875.
Authors: Peter R C Howe; Jonathan D Buckley; Karen J Murphy; Tahna Pettman; Catherine Milte; Alison M Coates Journal: Nutrients Date: 2014-05-05 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Fabian Yap; See Ling Loy; Chee Wai Ku; Mei Chien Chua; Keith M Godfrey; Jerry Kok Yen Chan Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-07-14 Impact factor: 3.105
Authors: Natarajan Padmapriya; Jonathan Y Bernard; Shen Liang; See Ling Loy; Shirong Cai; Iris Shen Zhe; Kenneth Kwek; Keith M Godfrey; Peter D Gluckman; Seang Mei Saw; Yap-Seng Chong; Jerry Kok Yen Chan; Falk Müller-Riemenschneider Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2017-10-18 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: So Hyun Ahn; Su Jin Lim; Young Moo Ryu; Hye-Ryung Park; Hyung Joo Suh; Sung Hee Han Journal: Lipids Health Dis Date: 2018-07-18 Impact factor: 3.876
Authors: See Ling Loy; Yin Bun Cheung; Marjorelee T Colega; Airu Chia; Chad Yixian Han; Keith M Godfrey; Yap-Seng Chong; Lynette Pei-Chi Shek; Kok Hian Tan; Ngee Lek; Jerry Kok Yen Chan; Mary Foong-Fong Chong; Fabian Yap Journal: Nutrients Date: 2019-11-06 Impact factor: 5.717