Effect of α-linolenic acid supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal polyunsaturated fatty acid status and pregnancy outcome

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2004-02, Vol.79 (2), p.251-260
• Main Authors: Groot, R.H.M. de, Hornstra, G, Houwelingen, A.C. van, Roumen, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; alpha-Linolenic Acid - metabolism; alpha-Linolenic Acid - pharmacology; Analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Birth weight; Birth Weight - drug effects; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; Dietary supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood; Double-Blind Method; Fatty acids; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fetal Blood - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Nutrition; Nutritional Status; Postpartum Period - blood; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/79.2.251

Background: Maternal essential fatty acid status declines during pregnancy, and as a result, neonatal concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) may not be optimal. Objective: Our objective was to improve maternal and neonatal fatty acid status by supplementing pregnant women with a combination of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6), the ultimate dietary precursors of DHA and AA, respectively. Design: From week 14 of gestation until delivery, pregnant women consumed daily 25 g margarine supplying either 2.8 g ALA + 9.0 g LA (n = 29) or 10.9 g LA (n = 29). Venous blood was collected for plasma phospholipid fatty acid analyses at weeks 14, 26, and 36 of pregnancy, at delivery, and at 32 wk postpartum. Umbilical cord blood and vascular tissue samples were collected to study neonatal fatty acid status also. Pregnancy outcome variables were assessed. Results: ALA+LA supplementation did not prevent decreases in maternal DHA and AA concentrations during pregnancy and, compared with LA supplementation, did not increase maternal and neonatal DHA concentrations but significantly increased eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) concentrations. In addition, ALA+LA supplementation lowered neonatal AA status. No significant differences in pregnancy outcome variables were found. Conclusions: Maternal ALA+LA supplementation did not promote neonatal DHA+AA status. The lower concentrations of Osbond acid (22:5n-6) in maternal plasma phospholipids and umbilical arterial wall phospholipids with ALA+LA supplementation than with LA supplementation suggest only that functional DHA status improves with ALA+LA supplementation.