Blood fatty acid composition of pregnant and nonpregnant Korean women: Redcells may act as a reservoir of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid for utilization by the developing fetus

Relative fatty acid composition of plasma and red blood cell (RBC) choline phosphoglycerides (CPG), and RBC ethanolamine phosphoglycerides (EPG) of pr egnant (n = 40) and nonpregnant, nonlactating (n = 40), healthy Korean wome n was compared. The two groups were of the same ethnic origin and comparabl e in age and parity. Levels of arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) a cids were lower (P < 0.05) and palmitic and oleic acids higher (P < 0.0001) in plasma CPG of the pregnant women. Similarly, the RBC CPG and EPG of the pregnant women had lower AA and DHA (P < 0.05) and higher palmitic and ole ic acids(P < 0.01). The reduction in DHA and total n-3 fatty acids in plasm a CPG of the pregnant women was paralleled by an increase in docosatetraeno ic (DTA) and docosapentaenoic (DPA) acids of the n-6 series and in DPA/DTA ratio. In the RBC phospholipids (CPG and EPC) of the pregnant women, DTA an d DPA acids of the n-6 series and DPA/DTA ratio did not increase with the d ecrease of the n-3 metabolites (eicosapentaenoic acid, DPA, and DHA) and to tal n-3. Since pregnancy was the main identifiable variable between the two groups, the lower levels of AA and DHA in RBC CPG and EPG of the pregnant women suggest that the mothers were mobilizing membrane AA and DHA to meet the high fetal requirement for these nutrients. It may also suggest that RB C play a role as a potential store of AA and DHA and as a vehicle for the t ransport of these fatty acids from maternal circulation to the placenta to be utilized by the developing fetus.