Gestational diabetes mellitus enhances arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in placental phospholipids

Abstract

In previous studies, we reported that neonates of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have reduced blood levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that were unrelated to maternal status. Since both AA and DHA are selectively transferred from maternal to fetal circulation by the placenta, we have investigated whether the FA composition of the placenta is altered by GDM. Thirty-six women, 11 with and 25 without GDM, were recruited from Newham General Hospital, London. The women with GDM had higher levels of di-homo-gamma-linolenic (P < 0.05), docosatetraenoic (n-6 DTA; P< 0.0001), docosapentaenoic n-6 (P< 0.005), total n-6 (P < 0.005), docosapentaenoic (n-3 DPA; P < 0.005), and total n-3 (P < 0.01) FA, as well as higher levels of AA (P < 0.05) and DHA (P < 0.01), in placental choline phosphoglycerides (CPG) compared with the healthy women who served as controls. Similarly, the women with GDM had elevated n-6 DTA (P < 0.005), AA, total n-6 metabolites (P < 0.05), DHA, total n-3 metabolites, and total n-3 FA (P < 0.005) in ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG). In contrast to CPG and EPG, the placental TG of the women with GDM had higher linoleic acid (P< 0.05) and lower AA, n-6 metabolites, and n-3 DPA (P < 0.01). The placenta is devoid of desaturase activity, and it is thought to be reliant on maternal circulation for both AA and DHA. Hence, the enhanced levels of the two FA in the placenta of the GDM group suggests that these FA are taken up from the maternal circulation and retained after esterification into phosphoglycerides instead of being transferred to the fetus. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanism involved and the effect of the phenomenon on postnatal growth and development of the offspring.

Circulating Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels Are Associated with Fetal Insulin Sensitivity

“…We observed lower cord plasma concentrations of DHA and n-3 LC-PUFA, but no significant difference in AA comparing the newborns of gestational diabetic versus non-diabetic pregnancies. The low cord blood DHA and AA in diabetic pregnancies may be a reflection of low maternal status in combination with placental sequestration [26] and increased fetal utilization [27]. The lack of difference in maternal circulating fatty acids levels indicates that the lower fetal circulating DHA levels in gestational diabetic pregnancies may be largely a problem of compromised maternal-placental-fetal DHA transportation, or impaired fetal DHA synthesis.…”

Experimentally induced gestational androgen excess disrupts glucoregulation in rhesus monkey dams and their female offspring

“…Their respective dams, however, exhibit circulating FFA levels similar to those found in control dams. Although increasing glucose load on human placental tissue in vitro does not alter placental transport of fatty acids (50), gestational diabetes alters placental processing of fatty acids and lipids that may diminish (11) or enhance (57) their release to the fetus. It is thus unclear whether diminished circulating FFA levels in PA female fetuses reflect reduced placental delivery or enhanced fetal extraction.…”

Long Chain PUFA Transport in Human Term Placenta

“…Diabetic pregnancies are associated with elevated levels of DHA, ARA, and g-linolenic acid in placental phospholipids (34). Interestingly, FABP1 expression is induced by PPARg/retinoid X receptor (35).…”