Polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of maternal diet and erythrocyte phospholipid status in Chilean pregnant women

• Published in: Nutrients 2014-11, Vol.6 (11), p.4918-4934
• Main Authors: Bascuñán, Karla A, Valenzuela, Rodrigo, Chamorro, Rodrigo, Valencia, Alejandra, Barrera, Cynthia, Puigrredon, Claudia, Sandoval, Jorge, Valenzuela, Alfonso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Chile; Chromatography, Gas; DHA; Diet; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - analysis; dietary intake; Electronic mail systems; Erythrocytes - chemistry; fatty acid phospholipids; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - blood; Female; Food Analysis; Gynecology; Humans; Lactation; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Metabolism; n-6 and n-3 PUFA intake; Nervous system; Nutrients; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition research; Obstetrics; Phospholipids - blood; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu6114918

Chilean diets are characterized by a low supply of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), which are critical nutrients during pregnancy and lactation, because of their role in brain and visual development. DHA is the most relevant n-3 PUFA in this period. We evaluated the dietary n-3 PUFA intake and erythrocyte phospholipids n-3 PUFA in Chilean pregnant women. Eighty healthy pregnant women (20-36 years old) in the 3rd-6th month of pregnancy were included in the study. Dietary assessment was done applying a food frequency questionnaire, and data were analyzed through the Food Processor SQL® software. Fatty acids of erythrocyte phospholipids were assessed by gas-liquid chromatography. Diet composition was high in saturated fat, low in mono- and PUFA, high in n-6 PUFA (linoleic acid) and low in n-3 PUFA (alpha-linolenic acid and DHA), with imbalance in the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. Similar results were observed for fatty acids from erythrocyte phospholipids. The sample of Chilean pregnant women showed high consumption of saturated fat and low consumption of n-3 PUFA, which is reflected in the low DHA content of erythrocyte phospholipids. Imbalance between n-6/n-3 PUFA could negatively affect fetal development. New strategies are necessary to improve n-3 PUFA intake throughout pregnancy and breast feeding periods. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop dietary interventions to improve the quality of consumed foods with particular emphasis on n-3 PUFA.