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Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy on maternal and fetal erythrocyte fatty acid composition

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 429–437 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on maternal erythrocyte fatty acid composition at different stages of pregnancy and in the post-partum period, and on neonatal erythrocyte fatty acid composition.

Design: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Subiaco, Western Australia.

Subjects: In all, 98 women booked for delivery at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, were recruited from private rooms of obstetricians. In total, 83 women and their healthy full-term babies completed the study.

Interventions: Women received either 4 g of fish oil (n=52) (56% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 28% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or placebo (olive oil) (n=46) per day from 20 weeks gestation until delivery.

Main outcome measures: Erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acids were measured in maternal peripheral blood at 20, 30 and 37 weeks of pregnancy and at 6 weeks post partum, and from cord blood collected at birth.

Results: Compared to the control group, maternal EPA and DHA were significantly higher in the fish oil group at 30 and 37 weeks gestation, and remained elevated at 6 weeks post partum (P<0.001). The proportions of n-6 polyunsaturated (arachidonic acid, 22:3n-6 and 22:4n-6) were significantly lower in the fish oil supplemented group at the same time periods (P<0.001). Similarly, the proportions of EPA and DHA were significantly higher (P<0.001), and those of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid, 20:3n-6, 22:3n-6 and 22:4n-6 were significantly lower (P<0.001), in erythrocytes from neonates in the fish oil group, compared to those in the control group.

Conclusions: Fish oil supplementation from 20 weeks of pregnancy until birth is an effective means of enhancing n-3 fatty acid status of both mothers and neonates. Furthermore, the changes in maternal erythrocyte fatty acid composition are retained until at least 6 weeks post partum. It is essential to assess the effects of concomitant decreases in arachidonic acid status before any dietary recommendations can be made.

Sponsorship: The study was supported by grants from the NH & MRC and Raine Medical Research Foundation, Australia.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the staff and patients who assisted us in this study. We are particularly grateful to the obstetricians and midwives at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia. We thank Professor Scott Weiss, Harvard Medical School for his role in the planning and design of this study. We also wish to thank Ms Lynette McCahon for technical assistance, Ms Elaine Pascoe for statistical advice and Dr Thierry Venaille for his advice and support during the study design. The study was supported by grants from the NH & MRC and Raine Medical Research Foundation, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    J A Dunstan, A L Taylor & S L Prescott

  2. Royal Perth Hospital Unit, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, Australia

    T A Mori, A Barden & L J Beilin

  3. Division of Cell Biology, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    P G Holt

  4. Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    P C Calder

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  1. J A Dunstan
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Guarantor: SL Prescott was accountable for all parts of the completed manuscript before and after publication.

Contributors J A Dunstan—study design, collection and analysis of data, writing the manuscript. T A Mori, Anne Barden, Lawrie Beilin—study design, collection of data, writing the manuscript. P G Holt—significant advice and consultation on study design; significant consultation on collection of data. P Calder—significant advice and consultation on study design; writing the manuscript. A L Taylor—collection of data. S L Prescott—senior author responsible for study design; collection and analysis of data; writing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to S L Prescott.

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Dunstan, J., Mori, T., Barden, A. et al. Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy on maternal and fetal erythrocyte fatty acid composition. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 429–437 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601825

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