Fatty acid composition of the milk lipids of Fulani women and the serum phospholipids of their exclusively breast-fed infants

We previously reported that, relative to milk of women elsewhere in the world, the lipid fraction of milk of Fulani women in northern Nigeria contained relatively low proportions of alpha-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This led us to question the essential fatty acid status of Fulani infants and the relation between the proportion of critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the serum phospholipids of the mothers, their milk, and the serum phospholipids of their exclusively breast-fed infants. We were also interested in the effect de novo intermediate chain length-fatty acids (C10-C14) had on the proportions of critical and non-essential fatty acids in milk. Capillary gas-liquid chromatography was used to analyze the fatty acid content of the total milk lipids of 34 Fulani women, as well as the fatty acid content of serum phospholipids of the women and their breast-fed infants during the first 6 months of life. The proportions of critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the milk of the Fulani women were adequate, but the proportions of these same fatty acids were low in their exclusively breast-fed infants. The serum phospholipids of the infants contained 18.8% linoleic acid, 0.13% alpha-linolenic acid, 12.8% arachidonic acid, and 3.40% DHA, whereas, the mean percentages of linoleic, alpha-linolenic, arachidonic and DHA in the serum phospholipids of the Fulani mothers' were 21.4, 0.20, 9.79, and 1.97, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between fatty acid content of serum phospholipids of Fulani women and the fatty acid content of their milk lipids. As the proportion of C10-C14 fatty acids in the milk lipids increased, the proportions of critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in milk remained relatively constant; however, proportions of three non-essential fatty acids decreased dramatically. C10-C14 fatty acids do not appear to displace critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in milk.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocyte and plasma lipids of children with severe protein–energy malnutrition

The fatty acid composition of plasma cholesterol esters, plasma phospholipids, erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine and erythrocyte phosphatidylethanolamine was investigated in severely malnourished Nigerian children with kwashiorkor (n = 12) and marasmus (n = 32). Normally nourished children from the same area (n = 23) served as controls. The malnourished children showed a significant reduction of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters, phospholipids and phosphatidylcholine. No differences between the groups were found in erythrocyte phosphatidylethanolamine. Children with kwashiorkor had lower levels of linoleic acid metabolites and docosahexaenoic acid than marasmic children. The results suggest that the kwashiorkor syndrome is associated with impaired desaturation and elongation of PUFA and/or increased lipid peroxidation.     

Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids in acrodermatitis enteropathica before and after zinc supplementation

The fatty acid composition of different plasma lipid fractions has been estimated in a 6-month-old girl with acrodermatitis enteropathica before and after zinc supplementation.Linoleic acid and its metabolites were extremely reduced in triglycerides and sterol-esters. In contrast, n-3-fatty acids were increased in sterol-esters and phospholipids.Zinc supplementation led to quick clinical improvement, and linoleic and arachidonic acid increased rapidly in triglycerides and sterol-esters to the values of healthy infants. Fatty acids of phospholipids remained relatively stable.Our finding could be explained by impaired enteral absorption of linoleic acid. Further attention should be directed to the supply and metabolism of essential fatty acids in acrodermatitis enteropathica.Abbreviations AE acrodermatitis enterophatica - FA fatty acids - OFC occipito-frontal circumference - PL phospholipids - STE sterol-esters - TG triglycerides     

Essential fatty acid metabolism in infants with cholestasis

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are important for the growth and early development of the central nervous system. Cholestatic infants suffer from fat malabsorption and disturbed lipid metabolism and therefore may be at risk of developing polyunsaturated fatty acid depletion. The aims of this study were to determine essential fatty acid status in cholestatic infants and to study the relationship to disease severity, degree of undernutrition, antioxidant status and mode of feeding. Twenty-four-hour dietary records were obtained in 34 cholestatic infants, and measurements were taken of skin fold thicknesses, bilirubin levels, activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, prothrombin time, serum concentrations of albumin, bile acids, total lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, vitamins A and E, the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and plasma lipid peroxides expressed as thiobarbiturate reactive substance (TBARS). Plasma phospholipid fatty acids and TBARS were also determined in 12 age-matched healthy control infants. The cholestatic patients had very low percentage values of phospholipid essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid (18:2ω-6, median 14.74% vs 20.76% in controls,p < 0:001) and its major metabolite arachidonic acid (20:4ω-6, 6.80 vs 7.87%,p= 0:04). The patients’essential fatty acid depletion was reflected by increased levels of the non-essential fatty acids, Mead acid (20:3ω)-9, 0.74 vs 0.21%, p< 0:001) and palmitoleic acid (16:1ω-7, 2.20 vs 0.43%, p< 0:001). Polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles did not differ between infants with biliary atresia (n= 13) and those with intrahepatic cholestasis (n= 21), or between 17 infants with severe malnutrition (all skin folds < 10th percentile) and mild malnutrition (at least two skin folds > 10th percentile). TBARS were significantly higher in cholestatic patients than in controls (2.74 vs 0.85 nmol ml^-1,p < 0:001) and correlated with direct (r= 0:41, p= 0:02) and total bilirubin. The daily dietary intake of linoleic acid (per 100 kcal) correlated with plasma phospholipid linoleic acid (r= 0:38,p= 0:037) and total ω-6 fatty acids (r= 0:38,p= 0:036). Breastfed cholestatic infants (n= 6) had higher values of the ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids docosapentanoic acid (22:5ω-3, 0.47 vs 0.28%, p= 0:0006) and docosahexanoic acid (22:6ω-3, 2.39 vs 1.73%, p= 0:01) than formula-fed infants, while disease severity was similar in the two groups. In conclusion, cholestatic infants are at high risk of essential fatty acid depletion, which appears to be related to fat malabsorption, hepatic essential fatty metabolism, enhanced lipid peroxidation and dietary intake.     

Effects of dietary nucleotides on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane lipids in term infants

Human milk contains relatively high amounts of acid-soluble nucleotides, mainly CMP, AMP, UMP, IMP, and UDP sugars, and lacks orotate. On the contrary, cow's milk and adapted formulas contain high amounts of orotate and very low amounts of CMP and AMP. Nucleotides may be modulators of metabolic functions in gut and liver. To evaluate the possible role of dietary nucleotides in newborn fatty acid metabolism, we studied the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids in 58 term infants at 30 days of age. Twenty of them were fed human milk (HM), 19 an adapted formula (MF), and 19 with the same formula supplemented with nucleotides (NMF) in an amount similar to that present in HM. Relative content of omega 6 and 3 PUFA greater than 18 carbon atoms was significantly reduced especially in phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine for infants fed regular MF compared with those fed HM or NMF. Unsaturation index of red blood cell phospholipids showed a similar effect. These results suggest that dietary nucleotides play a role in the in vivo desaturation and elongation of essential fatty acids to long chain PUFA during early life for the human newborn.     

Evidence for a pathogenic role of omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the cutaneous manifestations of biotin deficiency

Abnormalities in fatty acid composition have been detected in biotin deficiency in humans and in the rat. However, the pathogenetic role of these abnormalities, if any, in the cutaneous manifestations of biotin deficiency is not clear. In a nutrient interaction experiment, we tested the hypothesis that an abnormality of omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism plays a pathogenetic role in the cutaneous manifestations. Five rats were fed an egg white diet that induces biotin deficiency; these rats developed the characteristic cutaneous abnormalities of biotin deficiency. Five additional rats were pair-fed the egg white diet and received Liposyn [77% linoleic acid (18:2 omega 6)]; these rats did not develop the cutaneous manifestations of biotin deficiency. The two groups had similar decreases in the rates of urinary excretion of biotin, the serum concentrations of biotin, the amounts of biotin in liver, and the hepatic activities of two biotin-dependent carboxylases; the two groups had similar increases in the rates of urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid. These observations provide evidence that (a) some abnormality in omega 6 PUFA metabolism has a pathogenetic role in the cutaneous manifestations of biotin deficiency and (b) this pathogenetic role can not be explained as a difference in biotin nutritional status due to a biotin-sparing effect of Liposyn.     

Synthesis of C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids by the placenta of the sheep

Incubation in vitro of sheep placental homogenates with [1-14C] oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids resulted in extensive amounts of radioactivity becoming associated with C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acid products. The fatty acids of the fetal plasma displayed substantial levels of both C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including the n-9 eicosatrienoic fatty acid associated with essential fatty acid deficiency, but extremely low levels of linoleic and linolenic acids. A role for the placenta in the provision to the fetus of a range of C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from C18 fatty acid precursors is implicated.     

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched diet attenuates stress-induced lactacidemia in 10-day-old rats

BACKGROUND: Lactacidemia is often seen under stress conditions including septic shock in the newborn. Under stress conditions, plasma catecholamine concentrations are increased and play an important role in lactate metabolism. Our previous study shows that perinatal feeding of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched diet (omega-3PUFA) attenuates lactacidemia of endotoxic shock in 10-day-old rats. In the omega-6 fatty acids series, decosapentanoic acid, two series prostaglandins and four series leukotrienes are synthesized through linoleic acids. As plasma lactate concentration correlates with the outcome of septic shock in the newborn, it is important to understand the effects of omega-3PUFA on lactate metabolism. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that perinatal feeding of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid enriched diet (omega-3PUFA) alters responses to catecholamines and attenuates the stress-induced lactacidemia in 10-day-old rats. METHODS: Ten-day-old rats which perinatally fed omega-3PUFA. Lactacidemia was induced by swimming for 5 min. Ten-day-old rats which perinatally fed omega-6PUFA were controls. Omega-6 fatty acids series are contained in animal fats and corn oil. Adrenergic blockers were used to assess roles of catecholamines in swimming-induced lactacidemia. RESULTS: Swimming increased plasma lactate concentration less (P<0.05) in rats fed omega-3PUFA than rats fed omega-6PUFA. Swimming increased plasma concentrations of glucose and glucagon, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and phosphoenolypruvate carboxykinase mRNA in the liver, and cAMP concentration in the hindlimb muscle more (P<0.05) in rats fed omega-3PUFA than in rats fed omega-6PUFA. Phentolamine and propranolol enhanced swim-induced lactacidemia in the omega-3PUFA group, while they decreased the lactacidemia in the omega-6PUFA group. Propranolol enhanced swimming-induced hyperglycemia in the omega-6PUFA group more than in the omega-3PUFA group. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3PUFA might increase beta-adrenergic response in the liver and increase gluconeogenesis in response to stress, resulting in decreased lactacidemia.     

Abnormal fatty acid turnover in the phospholipids of the red blood cell membranes of cystic fibrosis patients (in vitro study)

A study was carried out in order to investigate whether the abnormal in vitro turnover of fatty acids in the phospholipids of the red blood cell membranes of cystic fibrosis patients is intrinsic to the membrane, or whether it is induced by extrinsic serum factors. Red blood cells of cystic fibrosis patients and healthy subjects were labeled in vitro with [14C]linoleic acid, bound to albumin. The labeled cells were reincubated in autologous and homologous serum. The radioactivity present in the serum lipids and in the major phospholipid fractions of the red cell membranes was measured. Conclusions of this study are: 1) not all of the cystic fibrosis patients examined individually show an abnormal in vitro turnover of the red cell fatty acids, although they all presented abnormal fatty acid patterns for the red blood cell phospholipids, the platelet phospholipids, and the plasma lipids. 2) The in vitro abnormal fatty acid turnover occurs only in the incubations where red cells of cystic fibrosis patients are involved (in homologous and autologous serum) and not where red cells of healthy subjects are incubated in serum of cystic fibrosis patients. Consequently, the abnormal turnover is intrinsic to the red cells and is not induced by extrinsic serum factors.     

Abnormal lung surfactant related to essential fatty acid deficiency in a neonate

A low-birth-weight infant, suffering from chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia following hyaline membrane disease and recurrent episodes of necrotizing enterocolitis, developed biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in the plasma. Fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol in the lung lavage fluid was abnormal. Plasma changes included a decrease in the level of linoleic acid and an increased level of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, and 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid to arachidonic acid being greater than 0.4:1. A lower than normal level of palmitic acid and an increased level of palmitoleic and oleic acids were seen in pulmonary sufactant phospholipid components. Upon treatment and recovery from EFA deficiency, the fatty acid pattern both in plasma and surfactant phospholipids returned to normal along with clinical improvement. An association between EFA deficiency and altered fatty acid composition of pulmonary surfactant phospholipids is suggested.     

Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids in Nigerian children with protein-energy malnutrition

The fatty acid (FA) composition of the main plasma lipids was analysed in eight well-nourished, generally healthy Nigerian children aged 14.1±7.2 months and in 17 malnourished children (8 marasmus, 9 kwashiorkor) aged 14.6±3.8 months within the first 2 days of admission at the Dept. of Child Health, University of Benin. In comparison to the control group, the malnourished children showed a marked decrease of polyunsaturated FA with low linoleic acid, mainly in sterolesters (STE), and severely reduced linoleic acid metabolites, including arachidonic acid, in all lipid fractions. -3-FA were not altered except for a reduction of docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in phospholipids. Clearly increased values were found for saturated FA in STE and for the non-essential monoenoic FA in all lipid classes. This pattern indicates the presence of essential fatty acid deficiency in the malnourished children. There was no significant difference between marasmus and kwashiorkor. Eight malnourished children were followed up in the early phase of recovery during hospital treatment 14.0±3.1 days after obtaining the first sample. Linoleic acid had increased again in STE, but its metabolites were as low or even lower than before. An impaired activity of delta-6-desaturase, the rate limiting enzyme of linoleic acid metabolism, in suggested by elevated substrate-product-ratios of this enzyme in untreated children with protein energy malnutrition and in the early phase of recovery, which may be due to low insulin levels, protein and zinc deficiency. The trientetraen-ratio (2039/2046) thus is not a reliable indicator of essential FA status in protein-energy malnutrition.Abbreviations EFA essential fatty acids - FA fatty acids - PEM protein energy malnutrition - PL phospholipids - STE sterolesters - TG triglycerides - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids Presented in part at the XIII. International Congress of Nutrition, Brighton, August 18–23, 1985     

Phospholipid fatty acids in cord blood: family history and development of allergy

The fatty acid composition of umbilical cord serum phospholipids was investigated by gas chromatography in 33 infants with allergic and 35 babies of non-allergic mothers. The relative levels of the linoleic acid metabolites C20:3, arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4) and C22:4n-6, and two α-linolenic acid metabolites, i.e. eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) were significantly higher in infants of allergic mothers than in non-allergic mothers (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, an altered proportional relationship between the various fatty acids in n-6 series fatty acids and between n-3 and n-6 series fatty acids was present already at birth in infants who developed allergic disease during their first 6 years of life. These observations cannot be employed for the prediction of allergy, however, as the individual variations were considerable.     

Comparison of fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions in well-nourished Nigerian and German infants and toddlers

The dietary intake of essential fatty acids is reflected by the plasma lipid composition. Only scanty data is available on the pattern of plasma fatty acids in young children and the influence of different environments. We analyzed the fatty acid composition of plasma sterolesters, triglycerides, and phospholipids in well-nourished-appearing children from Benin City, Nigeria (n = 8; aged 14.1 +/- 7.2 months) and Düsseldorf, FRG (n = 17; aged 15.2 +/- 5.1 months). The Nigerian group tended to have bigger proportions of the essential omega-6-fatty acids, linoleic acid, and its metabolites, and by far higher values for long-chain omega-3-fatty acids, which are considered to be protective against atherogenesis. The saturated and nonessential monoenoic fatty acids tended to be lower in the Nigerian children, and the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids was higher. We conclude that the quality of dietary fat in the German children was worse and may imply an increased risk for development of atherosclerosis.     

Effects of biotin deficiency on plasma and tissue fatty acid composition: evidence for abnormalities in rats

Abnormalities of fatty acid composition have been detected in the plasma of patients who developed frank biotin deficiency during parenteral nutrition. We sought to determine which abnormalities of fatty acid composition, if any, would be replicated in the biotin-deficient rat and to determine the relative temporal relationships of these abnormalities to biotin nutritional status. We measured fatty acid compositions of the phospholipids extracted from plasma, heart, and liver and assessed biotin nutritional status longitudinally in biotin-deficient and biotin-treated rats during progressive biotin deficiency. In the biotin-deficient group, significant increases relative to the biotin-treated group were detected in all three tissues in the odd-chain fatty acids 15:0 and 17:0. In the biotin-deficient rats, significant increases in 18:2 omega 6 in liver and 18:3 omega 6 in plasma and liver and significant decreases in 22:5 omega 6 were detected in plasma and liver. The constellation of fatty acid abnormalities observed in the biotin-deficient rats was not identical to that observed in biotin-deficient patients, but abnormalities in composition of odd-chain fatty acids were detected in both human and rat and therefore are attributable to biotin deficiency per se. The abnormalities in fatty acid composition were already present by wk 4 on the egg white diet; the cutaneous findings appeared between wk 3 and 6. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that an abnormality in fatty acid metabolism may play a pathogenetic role in the cutaneous manifestations of biotin deficiency.     

Breast milk fatty acids may link innate and adaptive immune regulation: analysis of soluble CD14, prostaglandin E2, and fatty acids

In addition to its role in sensing intraluminal microbial antigens, soluble (s)CD14 may regulate immune responses by its lesser known function as a lipid carrier with possible influences in the production of fatty acid-derived eicosanoids. We investigated the interrelations of fatty acids, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and sCD14 and their role in infant atopic eczema during the first year of life. Serum and breast milk samples from mothers and serum samples from their infants were collected at infant's age 3 mo and analyzed for sCD14 and PGE2 concentrations and for fatty acid compositions. The main correlation of sCD14 was with arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) (AA). Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3n-6) (DHGLA) and the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids correlated positively and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) (DHA) and sum of n-3 fatty acid negatively with PGE2 in mother's serum and linoleic acid (LA) negatively with PGE2 in breast milk. Soluble CD14 tended to be higher and LA, total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and sum of n-6 fatty acids were lower in breast milk received by infants with atopic eczema compared with those without. These results suggest that fatty acids contribute to the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses and link intraluminal exposures, mother's diet, and microbes.     

Effects of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on the essential fatty acid status of premature infants

The effect of different diets on the percentage content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP; metabolites of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids) in plasma lipids was studied in 29 premature infants on days 4 and 21 of life. Eleven infants were fed human milk which supplies LCP (1.7% of the fatty acids), 10 a commercially available milk formula without LCP, and 8 a new formula enriched with LCP of the omega-6 and the omega-3 series (0.5% LCP). LCP values in plasma lipids remained stable during the observation period in infants fed human milk. In contrast, LCP decreased markedly in plasma lipids of infants fed the conventional formula. Since the precursor fatty acids linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids were high in their diet and plasma, this finding indicates that premature infants have a limited capacity for LCP biosynthesis and may require their dietary supplementation. Infants fed the LCP enriched formula had significantly higher LCP proportions in plasma lipids than infants given the conventional formula, but less than infants fed human milk. Our results demonstrate that small concentrations of dietary LCP have marked effects on plasma lipid composition, particularly on phospholipids, suggesting that dietary LCP are preferentially channelled into structural lipids. We conclude that the essential fatty acid status of formula-fed premature infants can be improved by a supplementation of omega-6- and omega-3-LCP.Abbreviation LCP long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids     

Fatty Acid Composition of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Mother-Infant Pairs

ABSTRACT. The fatty acid composition of microsamples from 10 AGA term, 8 SGA term, 7 AGA preterm and 4 SGA preterm, 2–4 day old infants and their mothers were analyzed. In AGA preterm newborns the mean percent of palmitic and stearic acid was lower and the mean percent of linoleic acid was higher than in AGA term infants indicating that there is an increase in fatty acids derived by synthesis from glucose throughout gestation. SGA infants had relative amounts of palmitic and stearic acid similar to what was found in AGA term infants. This indicates that the enzymes involved in synthesis of fatty acids from glucose are intact in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The absolute amount of adipose tissue and fatty acids, however, is smaller in SGA infants due to a reduced availability of glucose in IUGR gestation. No differences were found in the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue from the mothers in the 4 groups. All mothers had a lower mean percent of palmitic and stearic acid and a higher mean percent of oleic and linoleic acid than their infants, ensuring a transplacental gradient to the fetus of this latter essential fatty acid. The fatty acid composition of plasma free fatty acids generally reflected the composition of the subcutaneous adipose tissue in the infants.     

Fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue in mother-infant pairs

The fatty acid composition of microsamples from 10 AGA term, 8 SGA term, 7 AGA preterm and 4 SGA preterm, 2-4 day old infants and their mothers were analyzed. In AGA preterm newborns the mean percent of palmitic and stearic acid was lower and the mean percent of linoleic acid was higher than in AGA term infants indicating that there is an increase in fatty acids derived by synthesis from glucose throughout gestation. SGA infants had relative amounts of palmitic and stearic acid similar to what was found in AGA term infants. This indicates that the enzymes involved in synthesis of fatty acids from glucose are intact in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The absolute amount of adipose tissue and fatty acids, however, is smaller in SGA infants due to a reduced availability of glucose in IUGR gestation. No differences were found in the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue from the mothers in the 4 groups. All mothers had a lower mean percent of palmitic and stearic acid and a higher mean percent of oleic and linoleic acid than their infants, ensuring a transplacental gradient to the fetus of this latter essential fatty acid. The fatty acid composition of plasma free fatty acids generally reflected the composition of the subcutaneous adipose tissue in the infants.     

Changes in the fatty acid composition of plasma and red blood cell membrane during the first hours of life in human neonates

The objective of this work was to examine the changes in the fatty acid profiles of plasma lipid fractions and red blood cell membrane phospholipids in newborn infants during the first 6-8 h of life. Methyl esters of fatty acids from plasma free fatty acids and phospholipids and from membrane phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin for cord blood (n = 20) and venous blood (n = 19) were analyzed by GLC. Important changes were observed in plasma fatty acids. Palmitic and palmitoleic acid increased from birth to 6-8 h of age for both free fatty acids and phospholipids. Palmitic acid also increased in membrane phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. In the former, stearic acid declined whereas oleic and docosatetraenoic acids increased. Phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin were less affected than phosphatidylcholine probably because the internal location of the two first fractions in erythrocyte membrane. Polyunsaturated fatty acids dropped slightly during the first hours of life in most lipid fractions. This may be a consequence of the interruption of placental fatty acid supply and the limited capacity of the newborn to desaturate their essential fatty acid tissue stores.     

Influence of changes in dietary fatty acids during pregnancy on placental and fetal fatty acid profile in the rat

To determine whether the composition of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could be modified in the fetus by maternal dietary fatty acids, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semipurified diets that differed only in the non-vitamin lipid component. The diets contained either 10 g palm, sunflower, olive or fish oil (FOD)/100 g diet. A total of 5-6 rats were studied in each group. At day 20 of gestation, corresponding to 1.5 days prior parturition, the fatty acids in maternal adipose tissue were closely related to the fatty acid composition in the corresponding diet. An important proportion of arachidonic acid (AA) appeared in maternal liver and plasma, although it was lower in the FOD than in the other groups. Except for saturated fatty acids, the proportion of individual fatty acids in the placenta correlated linearly with that in maternal plasma. Also, PUFA in fetal plasma and liver showed significant correlations with PUFA in maternal plasma. Again, AA showed the lowest proportion in the plasma and liver of the FOD group. Therefore, the maternal dietary fatty acid composition influences maternal and fetal plasma and tissue composition, and an increase in dietary omega-3 fatty acids decreases the amount of AA in maternal and fetal tissues.