Cis- and trans-isomeric fatty acids in plasma lipids of newborn infants and their mothers.
The proportionate fatty acid composition of plasma lipids was determined by high-resolution gas-liquid chromatography in 30 pairs of mothers and their term infants at the time of birth. Trans-fatty acids were found at similar percentage levels in maternal and infantile plasma, evidence for the first time of their placental permeability. In umbilical plasma, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids contributed markedly smaller portions to total fatty acids, in contrast to clearly higher proportions of their long-chain polyunsaturated metabolites (LCP). Significantly larger percentage values in cord than in maternal plasma were found for those LCP that are structural components of brain lipids, which may reflect a discriminating placental transport mechanism for certain physiologically important LCP.
Koletzko
B
B
Department of Pediatrics, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, FRG.
Müller
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007536:Isomerism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy
D005227:Fatty Acids