Perinatal Supply and Metabolism of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Abstract

The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential structural lipid components of biomembranes. During pregnancy, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are preferentially transferred from mother to fetus across the placenta. This placental transfer is mediated by specific fatty acid binding and transfer proteins. After birth, preterm and full-term babies are capable of converting linoleic and ␣-linolenic acids into AA and DHA, respectively, as demonstrated by studies using stable isotopes, but the activity of this endogenous LC-PUFA synthesis is very low. Breast milk provides preformed LC-PUFA, and breast-fed infants have higher LC-PUFA levels in plasma and tissue phospholipids than infants fed conventional formulas. Supplementation of formulas with different sources of LC-PUFA can normalize LC-PUFA status in the recipient infants relative to reference groups fed human milk. Some, but not all, randomized, double-masked placebo-controlled clinical trials in preterm and healthy full-term infants demonstrated benefits of formula supplementation with DHA and AA for development of visual acuity up to 1 year of age and of complex neural and cognitive functions. From the available data, we conclude that LC-PUFA are conditionally essential substrates during early life that are related to the quality of growth and development. Therefore, a dietary supply during pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood that avoids the occurrence of LC-PUFA depletion is desirable, as was recently recommended by an expert consensus workshop of the Child Health Foundation.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and anthropometric indices of children in rural China

“…Docosahexaenoic acid and AA enhance growth in term and preterm infants (Clandinin et al, 1980, ) and have been shown to affect visual acuity and maturation of the visual cortex Birch et al, 2002). Docosahexaenoic acid and AA also affect cell signaling, maintain optimal states of fluidity and enhance neurovascular membrane integrity (Hardy and Kleinman, 1994;Jorgensen et al, 1996;Giovanni et al, 1998;Larque et al, 2002;Crawford et al, 2003;Uauy et al, 2003) as well as augment cognitive development (Agostoni et al, 1995;Birch et al, 2000,). Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) may therefore play a very important role in growth and development in later childhood, yet intake data by preschool children are sparse, especially in developing countries.…”

Prenatal PUFA undernutrition and risk of adult psychiatric disorders

“…In contrast, mammals are capable to synthesize the longchain derivatives of these PUFAs, in particular AA, EPA and DHA from LA and ALA in a multistage conversion process in the endoplasmic reticulum of liver cells 8,9 . Because the placental desaturase activity/fetal enzyme activity is limited in utero, the fetus depends on placental PUFAs transfer 10,11 . High amounts of DHA are incorporated into brain/retinal membranes and modulate membrane fluidity and permeability, improve photoreceptor differentiation and may impact on enzyme activity, respectively 11 .…”

“…Because the placental desaturase activity/fetal enzyme activity is limited in utero, the fetus depends on placental PUFAs transfer 10,11 . High amounts of DHA are incorporated into brain/retinal membranes and modulate membrane fluidity and permeability, improve photoreceptor differentiation and may impact on enzyme activity, respectively 11 . Intrauterine requirements for essential FAs (derivatives of n-6 and n-3) during the last trimester of pregnancy through to the early weeks of life have been estimated to be 400 and 50 mg/kg/day for n-6 and n-3 PUFAs, respectively 12 .…”

Effect of Sunflower, Linseed and Soybean Meal in Pig Diet on Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile of Meat and Backfat, and Its Oxidative Stability

“…Furthermore, n-3 fatty acids decrease blood pressure, regulate activity of protein kinase C, which play a role in angiogenesis and slow growth and dissemination of tumour metastases [2,3]. Also, n-3 fatty acids are recognized as an important nutritional factor for brain function and development, and their defi cit, in the prenatal period, can change learning ability, memory and behaviour [4]. There is evidence that decosahexaenoic acid is essential for normal functioning of rhodopsin, and therefore visual function.…”