Maternal and perinatal long-chain fatty acids: possible roles in preterm birth.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a case-control study to evaluate whether maternal and fetal omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acid status play possible roles in the pathogenesis of preterm birth.


METHODS
Essential fatty acid status in blood and trophoblast tissues was measured in (1) women and their newborns with spontaneous preterm birth and (2) control women and newborns at 34 weeks' gestation (maternal blood) and at term delivery.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven preterm (mean gestational age 34 weeks) and 34 control mother-baby dyads (gestational age 40 weeks) were evaluated. The maternal percent of total arachidonic acid in red blood cells and plasma was increased in preterm cases versus controls at delivery (3.8- and 1.6-fold, respectively, p < 0.05). Maternal red blood cell eicosapentaenoic acid (1.98 +/- 0.15, p < 0.0001) and omega-3/omega-6 ratios (0.58 +/- 0.22, p < 0.009) were lower in preterm cases than in controls at delivery (4.64 +/- 0.32 and 1.27 +/- 0.12, respectively). Docosapentaenoic acid, a marker of omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency, was higher in preterm maternal red blood cells (1.26 +/- 0.18, p < 0.0001) and amnion (1.27 +/- 0.19, p < 0.001) compared with term controls (0.12 +/- 0.07 and 0.58 +/- 0.13, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Women delivered preterm demonstrated higher arachidonic acid and docosapentaneoic acid levels in maternal blood and trophoblast tissue than did women delivered at term. This suggests (1) altered essential fatty acid intake or metabolism in a portion of women delivered preterm and (2) increased maternal red blood cell arachidonic acid is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.
Reece
M S
MS
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA.
McGregor
J A
JA
Allen
K G
KG
Harris
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000737:chemistry; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000737:chemistry
D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid