LONG-CHAIN W3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS AND LIPID PATTERN IN THE MOTHER AND THE NEWBORN-INFANT

We studied 162 mother-neonate pairs to determine the relationship betw een w3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (w3LCP) intake during pre gnancy and their levels in the mother and the neonate, and the general lipid pattern in the mother and the neonate, A dietetic interview was performed to assess the w3LCP intake during pregnancy. In both mother s and neonates we studied the w3LCPs in plasma and erythrocyte phospho lipids and also the general lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL-c, L DL-c, triglycerides, apo A1 and apo B). The w3LCP intake assessed by t he dietetic interview (0.74 +/- 0.52 g/day) did not correlated with an y of the parameters of the general lipid pattern in mothers or neonate s. In mothers, the w3LCP levels in plasma expressed in percentages sho wed a positive correlation with apo A1 and HDL-c, and a negative corre lation with triglycerides and apo B. The w3LCPs levels in mothers show ed an inconsistent and weak correlation with triglycerides and apo B i n neonates. When w3LCPs levels were assessed in the neonates themselve s a consistent positive correlation was found with triglycerides. We c oncluded that in the dietetic range of our population, the intake of w 3LCPs was not associated to any changes in the general lipid pattern o f mothers or neonates. Whereas the w3LCP levels in mothers were correl ated with the changes in the general lipid pattern reported outside pr egnancy, such correlations were not present in regard to the neonate g eneral profile, whereas the newborn's w3LCP levels were correlated wit h triglycerides. We belive that the hypertriglyceridemia of pregnancy the placenta and the peculiarities of fetal metabolism are the causes of the aforementioned findings.