Risk of Preeclampsia in Relation to Elaidic Acid (<i>Trans</i> Fatty Acid) in Maternal Erythrocytes

Abstract

Objective: Trans fatty acids, formed by the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, are associated with increases in plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, lipoprotein (a), and coronary heart disease risk. Trans fatty acids may also increase platelet aggregation and alter eicosanoid biosynthesis. We studied the relation between maternal dietary intake of trans fatty acids and risk of preeclampsia. Methods: Maternal intake of elaidic acid, one of the most abundant dietary trans fatty acids and other fatty acids were estimated using gas-liquid chromatography on erythrocytes from 22 women with preeclampsia and 40 normotensive controls. Fatty acids were expressed as the percentage of total fatty acids in erythrocytes. Logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Mean levels of elaidic acid were 28% higher among preeclamptics (0.43 ± 0.12) as compared with controls (0.31 ± 0.12; p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, women with the highest levels of elaidic acid (median = 0.47) were 7.4 times (odds ratio = 7.4; 95% confidence interval 1.4–39.7) more likely to have had their pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia as compared with those women with the lowest levels (median 0.24). Risk of preeclampsia appeared to increase with increasing levels of elaidic acid (p value for linear trend = 0.05). Conclusion: These cross-sectional data suggest that diets high in elaidic acid may be associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. This hypothesis should be examined in larger longitudinal studies.

A prospective study of trans fat intake and risk of preeclampsia in Denmark

“…Our findings are in sharp contrast with two previous reports of a strong positive association between erythrocyte levels of trans fatty acids, a biomarker of intake (Sun et al 2007), and risk of preeclampsia (Mahomed et al 2007, Williams et al 1998). The difference in the results across studies raises several possibilities for interpretation.…”

“…Williams and colleagues (Williams et al 1998) compared the trans fatty acid content of erythrocytes from blood samples obtained on the first postpartum day from 22 women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 40 normotensive controls in the United States. Women in the highest tertile of erythrocyte trans fatty acids had a 7.4-fold greater odds of preeclampsia compared to women in the lowest tertile (Williams et al 1998). A second study from this group (Mahomed et al 2007) used a similar methodology and enrolled 170 women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 185 normotensive controls from a maternity hospital in Zimbabwe.…”

“…Trans fats also increased insulin resistance (Lefevre et al 2005, Riserus et al 2002) and circulating levels of inflammatory markers (Baer et al 2004) in randomized trials. In addition, trans fatty acid levels in erythrocytes have been related to a higher risk of preeclampsia (Mahomed et al 2007, Williams et al 1998). …”

The role of obesity in preeclampsia

“…Preeclamptic women have lower red cell concentrations of n-3 PUFAs 84 and increased trans -fatty acids. 85 Observational studies of dietary n-3 PUFA intake during pregnancy have produced conflicting results. 86, 87; 88 Dietary intake of trans -fatty acid or saturated fat has not been extensively studied in relationship to preeclampsia.…”

Fatty acid distribution of cord and maternal blood in human pregnancy: special focus on individual trans fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids

“…In contrast, trans fatty acids ( t FA) are considered to enhance the risk of coronary heart disease [6,7], atopy [8], complications in pregnancy, e.g. preeclampsia [9] and to impair fetal development [10]. Extensive data on preferred LC-PUFA transport from mother to fetus [11,12] as well as higher LC-PUFA concentrations in fetal than in maternal blood [13-16] have been published over the last few decades.…”