INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION AND PLASMA FATTY-ACIDS IN THE MOTHER AND THE FETUS

Background: Assessing the relationship between plasma fatty acids, spe cially polyunsaturated fatty acids in the mother and the fetus and int rauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in an apparently well-nourished po pulation, Design: Case-control intrapartum analysis, Setting: Academic tertiary hospital. Patients, participants: There were 17 IUGR newborn cases (23 mothers) and 34 newborn control cases (46 mothers), Main ou tcome measure: Eleven fatty acids were blindly analysed in plasma by m eans of gas chromatography. Results: Percentage values of eicosapentae noic acid among mothers from the IUGR group were significantly higher than controls, whereas stearic absolute values were significantly redu ced. On the other hand there were no differences in percentage values nor in absolute values regarding the 11 fatty acids analysed in newbor n infants, Conclusion: In an apparently well-nourished population IUGR is not associated with an alteration in plasma fatty acids on the fet al side, However, on the maternal side some imbalance in eicosapentaen oic and stearic acids were found which will require further study,