Fatty acid status of women of reproductive age

Abstract

Objective: Healthy foetal and infant development is dependent on an adequate maternal supply of essential and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). While there are published data on the fatty acid status of pregnant women, there are few on the status of non-pregnant women of reproductive age. The aims of this study were to test the hypotheses that the fatty acid status of non-pregnant women is affected by socio-economic status and anthropometric, behavioural and obstetric factors. Design: Observational study Methods: One-hundred and thirty-®ve women of child-bearing age (mean 29.8 y, s.d. 6.92) were invited to provide a blood sample and to answer a questionnaire, of whom 114 were included in the study. Plasma and red cell total fatty acids were measured as their methyl esters by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results: On multivariate analyses, use of hormonal contraception was independently associated with lower plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids (difference between means À2.76, 95% con®dence interval (À4.64, À0.88), P 0.0034), whereas cigarette smoking was associated with higher red cell oleic acid (0.74 (0.18, 1.29), P 0.0094). Fish intake was associated with higher red cell total n-3 fatty acids (0.62 (0.27, 0.85), P 0.0014). Conclusions:We have reported data on the range of the fatty acids of plasma and red blood cells (RBC) total lipids of 114 healthy women of reproductive age. These data provide further information on how socio-economic, anthropometric, behavioural and obstetric factors may be relevant to female and nutrition and health.

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and visual evoked potential development in term infants: a double blind, prospective, randomised trial

“…By 28 weeks, DHA accounted for a significantly higher % TFA in RBC (p < 0.05) and a higher concentration in both RBC and plasma (p < 0.05) in the fish oil compared with placebo group. At term delivery, RBC and plasma DHA had declined relative to 28 week DHA status in all mothers. The % TFA and concentration (p < 0.05) in maternal RBCs remained higher in the fish oil than placebo group (table 4).…”

“…28 A supplemental maternal supply of DHA during gestation should increase maternal DHA status, and thereby increase the amount of DHA available to the fetus, thus enhancing postnatal DHA status of mother and infant. Moreover, an enhanced supply of DHA during the last trimester of pregnancy, when the visual and nervous systems are in a state of rapid growth and maturation, could enhance visual development.…”

Alteration of polyunsaturated fatty acid status and metabolism in health and disease

“…A potential adverse effect of hormonal contraception on erythrocyte fatty acid status has been observed by increasing some saturated fatty acids such as C16:0 and decreasing other unsaturated fatty acids such as EPA [17]. PUFA play an important role Polyunsaturated fatty acids in health and disease 275 in the brain and vascular development and in the normal course of pregnancy, as well as in a number of conditions as fetal growth retardation [18] and preeclampsia [19,20].…”

Red blood cell n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in first trimester of pregnancy are inversely associated with placental weight

“…When PUFA status of smokers and non‐smokers has been compared, some studies found no difference (17, 18), while one study found lower long‐chain PUFA status in smoking than non‐smoking men (19). Further, neonates of smoking women had lower long‐chain PUFA status than neonates of non‐smoking women (9).…”