Maternal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid levels during pregnancy and childhood lipid and insulin levels

Abstract

Background and AimsMaternal polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels are associated with cord blood lipid and insulin levels. Not much is known about the influence of maternal PUFAs during pregnancy on long-term offspring lipid and insulin metabolism. We examined the associations of maternal plasma n-3 and n-6 PUFA levels during pregnancy with childhood lipids and insulin levels.Methods and ResultsIn a population-based prospective cohort study among 3,230 mothers and their children, we measured maternal second trimester n-3 and n-6 PUFA plasma levels. At the median age of 6.0 years (95% range, 5.6-7.9), we measured childhood total-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and c-peptide levels. Higher maternal total n-3 PUFA levels, and specifically DHA levels, were associated with higher childhood total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels (p-values <0.05), but not with LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Maternal total n-6 PUFA levels were not associated with childhood outcomes, but higher levels of the individual n-6 PUFAs, EDA and DGLA were associated with a lower childhood HDL-cholesterol, and higher AA levels with higher childhood total-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels (all p-values <0.05). A higher maternal n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was only associated with lower childhood HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels (p-values <0.05). These associations were not explained by childhood body mass index.ConclusionsHigher maternal total n-3 PUFAs and specifically DHA levels during pregnancy are associated with higher childhood total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels. Only individual maternal n-6 PUFAs, not total maternal n-6 PUFA levels, tended to be associated with childhood lipids and insulin levels.

Fish Intake in Pregnancy and Offspring Metabolic Parameters at Age 9–16—Does Gestational Diabetes Modify the Risk?

“…In another Danish cohort of 965 women with largely comparable intake levels, marine n-3 LCPUFA intake was not related to lipid levels [ 25 ]. This is in contrast to a recent study using maternal plasma levels of fatty acids which found that DHA levels were associated with higher offspring cholesterol and HDL at an age of six years [ 63 ]. Interestingly, this study also found that maternal DHA plasma levels were related to higher offspring insulin.…”

Nutritional Gaps and Supplementation in the First 1000 Days

“…The continued intake of EPA and DHA are also important for the maintenance of the mother's cardiovascular health, as they mitigate several risk factors for disease, including lowering triglycerides and LDL, raising HDL and modulating blood pressure, heart rate and arterial compliance [45]. The level of omega-3 fatty acids in the mother's bloodstream during pregnancy has been shown to correlate with insulin levels [46] and adiposity [47]. Newer lines of inquiry have indicated that prenatal DHA during the second half of pregnancy alters the infant epigenome (gene activity changes that do not affect the DNA sequence) and can alter developmental programming [48].…”

The effect of high maternal linoleic acid on endocannabinoid signalling in rodent hearts

“…7 In humans, plasma concentrations of LA vary and estimated to be 280-5000 μM in one Western population. 8 Maternal plasma LA concentrations of ∼600-1200 μM 9,10 have been identified during pregnancy. The concentration of n-6 in pregnancy is critical, as imbalance between n-6 and n-3 FA in maternal diet impairs neocortical development in offspring.…”