Plasma fatty acid profiles in 37 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord blood samples

Objectives and Methods In order to study the fatty acid transfer from the mother to fetus, their fatty acid profiles were compared by 37 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord plasma specimens obtained from healthy Japanese women at delivery. Results The fetal/maternal fatty acid concentration ratios differed among individual fatty acids. The ratios were low for linoleic acid (LN, 0.12±0.04) and linolenic acid (LnN, 0.07±0.05) but high for arachidonic acid (AA, 0.66±0.17) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 0.44±0.13). Significant correlations were observed between the maternal and fetal EPA (r=0.74) and DHA (r=0.40) concentrations. Conclusions These results suggest that DHA and AA are preferentially transferred to the fetus. Fetal fatty acid profile reflects the maternal intake of EPA and DHA.