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Maternal nutrition, infants and children

Proportions and concentrations of serum n-3 fatty acids can be increased by dietary counseling during pregnancy

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, pages 1163–1168 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The mother is an important mediator to the infant of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the essential constituents of membranes particularly in the brain and retina. We here aimed in a prospective study initiated in early pregnancy to establish whether serum fatty acid (FA) compositions and concentrations in the mother can be modified by dietary means emphasizing counseling on a recommended diet.

Subjects/Methods:

Ninety women in the first trimester of pregnancy were randomized into intervention (n=45) or control (n=45) groups. The intervention comprised individual dietary counseling advocating choice of foods that will increase the intake of unsaturated and reduce that of saturated FA. To support this, appropriate products, including spreads, were provided for consumption at home. Dietary intakes were measured from food records and serum phospholipids, cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols FA were analyzed by gas chromatography.

Results:

Dietary counseling resulted in lower intake of saturated and higher intake of unsaturated FA compared with the controls. These changes were reflected in higher proportions of serum phospholipid PUFA (mean difference between groups 0.61% (95% confidence interval, CI 0.05–1.17), P=0.03), docosahexaenoic acid (0.5% (0.15–0.85), P=0.01), sum of n-3 FA (0.61% (0.07–1.15), P=0.03) and lower ratio of n-6/n-3 FA (−0.42% (−0.81–0.03), P=0.03) in the intervention group at the third trimester of pregnancy but not at 1 month postpartum. Similar changes were seen in the FA of cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols.

Conclusion:

Maternal serum n-3 FA status during pregnancy can be improved by dietary means emphasizing the importance of dietary advice.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the study participants, research nurse Ulla-Maija Eriksson for her contribution to the study and Robert MacGilleon MA for revision of the English text. The study was supported by a grant from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland and a personal grant to UH from the Vaasa Hospital District (EVO funding). Raisio plc, Raisio, Finland provided the food products used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Central Hospital of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    U Hautero

  2. Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    U Hautero, K Niinivirta & K Laitinen

  3. Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland

    U Hautero, K Niinivirta & E Isolauri

  4. Eurofins Scientific Finland Oy, Raisio, Finland

    P Laakso

  5. Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    K Linderborg

  6. Stat-Consulting, Nokia, Finland

    T Poussa

  7. Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    K Laitinen

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  1. U Hautero
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Correspondence to U Hautero.

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Hautero, U., Laakso, P., Linderborg, K. et al. Proportions and concentrations of serum n-3 fatty acids can be increased by dietary counseling during pregnancy. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 1163–1168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.169

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.169

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