POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS TRANSFER ACROSS THE PLACENTA WAS LOWER IN OBESE COMPARED TO NORMAL WEIGHT PREGNANT WOMEN

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2017-10, Vol.71 (Suppl. 2), p.559
• Main Authors: Gázquez, Antonio, Ruiz-Palacios, María, Prieto-Sánchez, María Teresa, García-Hernández, Carmen María, Blanco-Carnero, José Eliseo, Schierbeek, Henk, van Goudoever, Johannes B, Demmelmair, Hans, Koletzko, Berthold, Larqué, Elvira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body weight; Carbon 13; Cholesterol; Control methods; Cord blood; Docosahexaenoic acid; Esterification; Fatty acids; Fetuses; Gas chromatography; Gestation; High density lipoprotein; Hyperlipidemia; In vivo methods and tests; Insulin; Isotopes; Linoleic acid; Lipids; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins (very low density); Low density lipoprotein; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Metabolism; Obesity; Oleic acid; Placenta; Placental transfer; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; Stable isotopes; Triglycerides; Weight; Women; Womens health
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000480486

Background and objectives: The incidence of obesity during pregnancy is increasing. Early programming of obesity could take place since very early stages of life, even during gestation. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in this process. Our aim was to investigate the in vivo metabolism and placental transfer of fatty acids (FA) labelled with stable isotopes across the placenta in obese and normal weight pregnant women. Methods: 10 controls (BMI 20-25kg/m2) and 10 obese pregnant women (BMI >30kg/m2) received orally, 12h before elective caesarean section, 0.05mg/kg 13C-oleic acid (13C-OA), 0.05mg/ kg 13C-linoleic acid (13C-LA) and 0.01mg/kg 13C-docosahexaenoic acid (13C-DHA). Maternal blood was collected at -8h, -4h, -2h and at time of caesarean section; placental tissue and cord blood were also collected at delivery. VLDL, LDL and HDL were isolated by ultracentrifugation. Lipid fractions from serum and placenta were isolated by thing layer chromatography. All samples were analysed for 13C enrichment by gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). Results: Both maternal serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels were similar in obese and normal weight pregnant women. Maternal insulin, placental weight and cord glucose tended to higher values in the obese group (n.s.). Both DHA and LA were significantly higher in plasma non-esterified fatty acids in obese vs. normal weight women (LA: 1.19 ± 0.16% vs. 0.83 ± 0.08%, P=0.058, DHA: 0.18 ± 0.04% vs. 0.09 ± 0.01%, P=0.046). HDL and LDL lipoproteins showed higher enrichment of LA and especially of DHA in the obese group, which may affect placental uptake of these FA. Tracer concentrations in total lipids of placenta were similar in both groups. However, the FA transfer to the fetus, evaluated by the ratio between cord and maternal 13C-FA plasma concentrations, was lower in obese women compared to controls, with a significant difference for LA (0.25 ± 0.03% vs. 0.39 ± 0.06%, P=0.04). Conclusions: The materno-fetal placental fatty acid transfer of LA and DHA is lower in obese pregnant women without hyperlipidemia than in women with normal body weight.