Abstract
Background: There are several publications reporting significant associations between trans fatty acids and LC-PUFA status or development in the perinatal period. Significant inverse correlations were reported between trans isomeric and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in cord blood lipids both in healthy full-term infants (Ellias & Innis, Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 73: 807–814) and in full-term infants with an atopic trait (Decsi et al, Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 74: 364–368), as well as in cord vessel wall lipids in healthy full-term infants (Decsi et al, Lipids 2002; 37: 959–965), and in plasma lipids in very young preterm infants (Koletzko, Acta Paediatr Scand 1992; 81: 302–306. It was speculated that the inverse association seen at birth should have its origin in the maternal fatty acid status, but the question has not been explicitly addressed as yet.
Methods: Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane phospatidylcholine lipids was determined by high- resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography at the 20th week of gestation in expecting women living in Germany (n = 23), Hungary (n = 34) and Spain (n = 44).
Results: The sum of trans isomeric fatty acids was significantly (P <0.01) higher in Spanish (0.71 [0.32], % wt/wt, median [IQR]) than in German (0.49 [0.24]) and Hungarian (0.56 [0.34]) mothers. No correlation was found between trans isomers and LC-PUFA in erythrocyte membrane lipids in German and Hungarian mothers. In Spanish mothers, there was no correlation between trans fatty acids versus linoleic acid (15.96 [3.90]) and alpha-linolenic acid (0.08 [0.11]) (table). In contrast, trans hexadecenoic acid (C16:1t, 0.20 [0.15]), trans octadecenoic acid (C18:1t, 0.36 [0.18]) and the sum of trans isomeric fatty acids were significantly inversely correlated to both arachidonic acid (7.92 [4.37]) and docosahexaenoic acid (2.50 [1.76]) (table, * = P <0.05, ** = P <0.01).
Conclusion: 1. The significant inverse associations found between trans isomeric and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocyte membrane lipids in expecting women support the concept that maternal trans fatty acid intake may be inversely associated to the long-chain polyunsturated fatty acid status of the foetus. 2. Among three groups of expecting women investigated, the inverse association between trans isomeric and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids was seen only in the group with the highest erythrocyte membrane trans fatty acid values. The study was supported by EU grant QLK1-CT-1999–00888
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Decsi, T., Campoy, C., Demmelmair, H. et al. 69 Do Trans Isomeric Fatty Acids Interfere with The Metabolism of Long-Chain Polyunsaturates in Expecting Women?. Pediatr Res 56, 475 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00092
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00092