P. Sanjurjo et al., CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF PERCENTUAL CHANGES IN TOTAL PLASMATIC FATTY-ACIDS DURING PREGNANCY, Hormone and Metabolic Research, 25(11), 1993, pp. 590-592
Total plasma fatty acids were analysed in 75 first trimester pregnant
women, 32 second trimester pregnant women, 27 women at delivery and 38
non-pregnant women. Eleven fatty acids were studied by capillar gas c
hromatography SP-column. Compared with non-pregnant women, in the firs
t trimester there was a significant percentual increase in palmitic, p
almitoleic, stearic and docosahexaenoic acids, whereas linoleic and ei
cosapentaenoic percentually decreased. Between the first and second tr
imester a significant increase in the proportion of palmitic acid and
a significant percentual decrease in arachidonic acid was detected. Be
tween the second trimester and delivery the aforementioned changes wer
e more marked. Between the second trimester and delivery there was als
o a significant percentual increase in oleic and linolenic acids, wher
eas the proportions of stearic, linoleic, dihomogammalinolenic and doc
osahexaenoic acids significantly decreased. It is suggested that the i
ntake in polyunsaturated fatty acids should be increased during pregna
ncy, specially in the third trimester.