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The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids intake during pregnancy on adiposity of healthy full-term offspring at birth

Journal of Perinatology volume 35, pages 177–180 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The adjusted effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) intake during pregnancy on adiposity at birth of healthy full-term appropriate-for-gestational age neonates was evaluated.

Study Design:

In a cross-sectional convenience sample of 100 mother and infant dyads, LCPUFA intake during pregnancy was assessed by food frequency questionnaire with nutrient intake calculated using Food Processor Plus. Linear regression models for neonatal body composition measurements, assessed by air displacement plethysmography and anthropometry, were adjusted for maternal LCPUFA intakes, energy and macronutrient intakes, prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain.

Result:

Positive associations between maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake and ponderal index in male offspring (β=0.165; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.031–0.299; P=0.017), and between n-6:n-3 LCPUFA ratio intake and fat mass (β=0.021; 95% CI: 0.002–0.041; P=0.034) and percentage of fat mass (β=0.636; 95% CI: 0.125–1.147; P=0.016) in female offspring were found.

Conclusion:

Using a reliable validated method to assess body composition, adjusted positive associations between maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake and birth size in male offspring and between n-6:n-3 LCPUFA ratio intake and adiposity in female offspring were found, suggesting that maternal LCPUFA intake strongly influences fetal body composition.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to: Ana Rita Silva, RD, Tatiana Guerra, RD, Tânia Camões, RD, Dietetics and Nutrition, Lisbon School of Health Technology, for their valuable collaboration in the collection of maternal dietary information collection and neonatal measurements; and Marta Alves, MSc, Research Unit of Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, for collaborating in the statistical analysis. Ana Luísa Papoila was partially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PEst-OE/MAT/UI0006/2014), Portugal. This project was partially sponsored through the ‘Milupa 2010’ grant for infant nutrition research of the Portuguese Neonatal Society.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatal Division, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal

    L Pereira-da-Silva, D Virella & G Cordeiro-Ferreira

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Nutrition Lab, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal

    L Pereira-da-Silva, R Neves & G Cordeiro-Ferreira

  3. Dietetics and Nutrition, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Lisbon, Portugal

    L Pereira-da-Silva, C Cabo & A C Moreira

  4. Research Unit, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal

    A L Papoila & D Virella

  5. University of Lisbon and Biostatistics and Informatics Department, Center of Statistics and Applications, NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    A L Papoila

  6. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, St. John Providence Children’s Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    K M Bridges

  7. Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Health Related Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA

    K M Bridges

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  1. L Pereira-da-Silva
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Correspondence to L Pereira-da-Silva.

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Pereira-da-Silva, L., Cabo, C., Moreira, A. et al. The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids intake during pregnancy on adiposity of healthy full-term offspring at birth. J Perinatol 35, 177–180 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.188

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.188

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