R. Matorras et al., LONG-CHAIN W3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS AND LIPID PATTERN IN THE MOTHER AND THE NEWBORN-INFANT, Journal of perinatal medicine, 26(4), 1998, pp. 313-319
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.