Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:09:48.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and fetal accretion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2007

Colette Montgomery ,
Brian K. Speake ,
Alan Cameron ,
Naveed Sattar  and
Lawrence T. Weaver
Colette Montgomery
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Brian K. Speake
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr, Scotland, UK
Alan Cameron
Affiliation:
Department of Fetal Medicine, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Naveed Sattar
Affiliation:
Department of Fetal Medicine, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Lawrence T. Weaver*
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Professor Lawrence T. Weaver, fax +44 141 201 0837, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6n−3) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is an essential constituent of membranes, particularly of the nervous system. Infants acquire DHA from their mothers, either prenatally via the placenta or postnatally in milk. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that maternal supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy enriches maternal and/or fetal DHA status. In a randomised, prospective, double-blind study 100 mothers received either fish-oil capsules containing 400mg DHA/g (200mg/d) (n 50), or placebo containing 810mg oleic acid/g (400mg/d) (n 50) from 15 weeks gestation until term. Venous blood samples were obtained from mothers at 15, 28 and 40 weeks, and from the umbilical cord at birth. Total fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes were analysed by GC–MS. There were no significant differences between maternal groups in baseline DHA, as a proportion of total fatty acids (g/100g total fatty acids) or concentration (nmol/ml), in plasma and erythrocytes. DHA concentrations in plasma at 28 weeks (P=0·02) and erythrocytes at both 28 weeks (P=0·03) and term (P=0·02) were 20% higher in supplemented mothers than the placebo group. DHA accounted for a higher proportion of total fatty acids in erythrocytes of supplemented mothers at 28 weeks (P=0·003) and term (P=0·01). There were no significant differences between groups in DHA (g/100g total fatty acids or nmol/l) in cord blood. Maternal DHA status was maximal in mid-trimester and declined to term, at a lower rate in supplemented compared with unsupplemented mothers. Maternal DHA supplementation significantly increases maternal DHA status and limits the last trimester decline in maternal status, aiding preferential transfer of DHA from mother to fetus.

Keywords

Polyunsaturated fatty acidDocosahexaenoic acidMotherInfant
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 90 , Issue 1 , July 2003 , pp. 135 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

References

Al, MD, van Houwelingen, AC, Badart-Smook, A, Hasaart, TH, Roumen, FJ & Hornstra, G (1995 a) The essential fatty acid status of mother and child in pregnancy-induced hypertension: a prospective longitudinal study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 172, 1605–1614.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Al, MD, van Houwelingen, AC, Badart-Smook, A & Hornstra, G (1995 b) Some aspects of neonatal essential fatty acid status are altered by linoleic acid supplementation of women during pregnancy. J Nutr 125, 2822–2830.Google ScholarPubMed
Al, MDM, Hornstra, G, van der Schouw, YT, Bulstra-Ramakers, MTEW & Huisjes, HJ (1990) Biochemical EFA status of mothers and their neonates after normal pregnancy. Early Hum Dev 24, 239–248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Al, MDM, van Houwelingen, AC & Hornstra, G (1997) Relation between birth order and the maternal and neonatal docosahexaenoic acid status. Eur J Clin Nutr 51, 548–553.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Al, MDM, van Houwelingen, AC, Kester, ADM, Hasaart, TH, De Jong, AEP & Hornstra, G (1995 c) Maternal essential fatty acid patterns during normal pregnancy and their relationship to the neonatal essential fatty acid status. Br J Nutr 74, 55–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ashby, AM, Robinette, B & Kay, HH (1997) Plasma and erythrocyte profiles of nonesterified polyunsaturated fatty acids during normal pregnancy and labor. Am J Perinatol 14, 623–629.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berghaus, TM, Demmelmair, H & Koletzko, B (2000) Essential fatty acids and their long-chain polyunsaturated metabolites in maternal and cord plasma triglycerides during late gestation. Biol Neonat 77, 96–100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berry, C, Montgomery, C, Sattar, N, Norrie, J & Weaver, LT (2001) Fatty acid status of women of reproductive age. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 518–524.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, FM, Gordon, MJ & Dutta-Roy, AK (1996) Preferential uptake of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids by isolated human placental membranes. Mol Cell Biochem 155, 77–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carnielli, VP, Wattimena, DJL, Luijendijk, IHT, Boerlage, A, Degenhart, HJ & Sauer, PJJ (1996) The very low birth weight premature infant is capable of synthesizing arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids from linoleic and linolenic acids. Pediatr Res 40, 169–174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carstairs, V & Morris, R (1990) Deprivation and health in Scotland. Health Bull (Edinb) 48, 162–175.Google ScholarPubMed
Clandinin, MT (1999) Brain development and assessing the supply of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Lipids 34, 131–137.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cleland, LG, James, MJ, Neumann, MA, D'Angelo, M & Gibson, RA (1992) Linoleate inhibits EPA incorporation from dietary fish oil supplements in human subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 55, 395–399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Connor, WE (2000) Importance of n−3 fatty acids in health and disease. Am J Clin Nutr 71, 171S–175S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Connor, WE, Lowensohn, R & Hatcher, L (1996) Increased docosahexaenoic acid levels in human newborn infants by administration of sardines and fish oil during pregnancy. Lipids 31, Suppl., S183–S187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crawford, MA, Doyle, W, Drury, P, Lennon, A, Costeloe, K & Leighfield, M (1989) n−6 and n−3 fatty acids during early human development. J Intern Med 225, Suppl. 1, 159–169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crawford, MA, Hassam, AG & Williams, G (1976) Essential fatty acids and fetal brain growth. Lancet, i, 452–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department of Health, Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1994) Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease: Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 46. London: H. M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Dutta-Roy, AK, Campbell, FM, Taffess, S & Gordon, MJ (1996) Transport of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids across the human placenta: role of fatty acid-binding proteins. In γ-Linolenic acid: Metabolism and Role in Nutrition and Medicine. pp 45–52. [Huang, YS and Mills, DE, editors]. New York: AOCS Press.Google Scholar
Fidler, N, Sauerwald, T, Pohl, A, Demmelmair, H & Koletzko, B (2000) Docosahexaenoic acid transfer into human milk after dietary supplementation: a randomized clinical trial. J Lipid Res 41, 1376–1383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Folch, J, Lees, M & Stanley, GHS (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipides from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 226, 497–509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helland, IB, Saarem, K, Saugstad, OD & Drevon, CA (1998) Fatty acid composition in maternal milk and plasma during supplementation with cod liver oil. Eur J Clin Nutr 52, 839–845.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helland, IB, Saugstad, OD & Smith, L, et al. (2001) Similar effects on infants of n−3 and n−6 fatty acids supplementation to pregnant and lactating women. Pediatrics, www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/e82CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hornstra, G, Al, MDM, Gerrard, JM & Simonis, MMG (1992) Essential fatty acid status of neonates born to Inuit mothers: comparison with Caucasian neonates and effect of diet. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 45, 125–130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hoving, EB, van Beusekom, CM, Nijeboer, HJ & Muskiet, FAJ (1994) Gestational age dependency of essential fatty acids in cord plasma cholesterol esters and triglycerides. Pediatr Res 35, 461–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jamieson, EC, Farquharson, J & Logan, RW, et al. (1999) Infant cerebellar gray and white matter fatty acids in relation to age and diet. Lipids 34, 1065–1071.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Makrides, M, Neumann, MA & Gibson, RA (1996) Effect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on breast milk composition. Eur J Clin Nutr 50, 352–357.Google ScholarPubMed
Malcolm, C, McCulloch, DL, Shepher, AJ, Montgomery, C & Weaver, LT (2003) Effect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during pregnancy on development of the visual evoked potential in term infants: a double blind randomised trial. Arch Dis Child (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matorras, R, Perteagudo, L, Nieto, A & Sanjurjo, P (1994) Intrauterine growth retardation and plasma fatty acids in the mother and the fetus. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 57, 189–193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olsen, SF, Hansen, HS & Sommer, S, et al. (1991) Gestational age in relation to marine n−3 fatty acids in maternal erythrocytes: a study of women in the Faroe Islands and Denmark. Am J Obstet Gynecol 164, 1203–1209.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Otto, SJ, Houwelingen, ACv & Antal, M, et al. (1997) Maternal and neonatal essential fatty acid status in phospholipids: an international comparative study. Eur J Clin Nutr 51, 232–242.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Otto, SJ, van Houwelingen, AC, Badart-Smook, A & Hornstra, G (2001) Changes in the maternal essential fatty acid profile during early pregnancy and the relation of the profile to diet. Am J Clin Nutr 73, 302–307.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reddy, S, Sanders, TAB & Obeid, O (1994) The influence of maternal vegetarian diet on essential fatty acid status of the newborn. Eur J Clin Nutr 48, 358–368.Google ScholarPubMed
Reece, MS, McGregor, JA, Allen, KDG & Harris, MA (1997) Maternal and perinatal long-chain fatty acids: possible roles in preterm birth. Am J Obstet Gynecol 176, 907–914.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salem, N Jr, Wegher, B, Mena, P & Uauy, R (1996) Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids are biosynthesized from their 18-carbon precursors in human infants. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 93, 49–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanjurjo, P, Matorras, R & Perteagudo, L (1995) Influence of fatty fish intake during pregnancy in the polyunsaturated fatty acids of erythrocyte phospholipids in the mother at labor and newborn infant. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 74, 594–598.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sauerwald, TU, Hachey, DL, Jensen, CL & Heird, WC (1997) New insights into the metabolism of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during infancy. Eur J Med Res 2, 88–92.Google Scholar
van der Schouw, YT, Al, MDM, Hornstra, G, Bulstra-Ramakers, MTEW & Huisjes, HJ (1991) Fatty acid composition of serum lipids of mothers and their babies after normal and hypertensive pregnancies. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 44, 247–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Houwelingen, AC, Sørensen, JD & Hornstra, G, et al. (1995) Essential fatty acid status in neonates after fish-oil supplementation during late pregnancy. Br J Nutr 74, 723–731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williams, C, Birch, EE, Emmett, PM, Northstone, K & The Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC) Study Team (2001) Stereoacuity at age 3.5y in children born full-term is associated with prenatal and postnatal dietary factors: a report from a population-based cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr 73, 316–322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar