Evaluation of the relation between n-3 and n-6 fatty acid status and parity in nonpregnant women from the Netherlands

Background: We previously observed an inverse relation between parity and d ocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status in preg nant women in the Netherlands. Thi s implies that maternal DHA status may not fully normalize after a mature p regnancy. Objective: The objective was to investigate the relation between the essent ial fatty acid status (in particular the DHA status) of nonpregnant women a nd the number of completed pregnancies and whether the number of previous p regnancies is associated with a lower DHA status in women from the Netherla nds. Design: This was a cross-sectional study of 129 healthy nonpregnant women w ho completed 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 mature, uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies. Results: The relative amount of DHA in the plasma phospholipids of nullipar ous women and of mothers who completed id, pregnancies (duration since last pregnancy: 3.9 +/- 2.4 y) was not significantly different; a significant c orrelation between parity and the percentage of DKA in the phospholipids wa s not observed either. The percentage of DHA in the phospholipids of erythr ocytes of mothers was significantly lower than the percentage in the erythr ocytes of the nulliparas (P = 0.013), but no significant correlation betwee n the percentage of DHA in the phospholipids of erythrocytes and parity was found. The time interval between the different pregnancies did not influen ce maternal DHA status. Conclusions: No relation was found between DHA status and parity in the non pregnant Dutch women whose last pregnancy was completed greater than or equ al to1 y previously Maternal DHA status, as reflected in plasma and erythro cyte phospholipids, probably normalized within I y after the last partus. W hether this is true for other tissues remains to be determined.