[Essential fatty acid content of maternal erythrocyte phospholipids. A study in preterm and full-term human newborns].
BACKGROUND
A high concentration of arachidonic acid in maternal erythrocytes and trophoblast could have a role in pre term deliveries.


OBJECTIVE
To study the fatty acid composition of long chain fatty acids from erythrocytes of mothers who gave birth to pre term and full term infants.


METHODS
Thirty three healthy women that gave birth to healthy newborns in a public hospital were studied. Twenty two had pre term (34 weeks) and 11 full term (40 weeks) deliveries. The fatty acid profile of phospholipids isolated from erythrocytes of these women was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
Compared to women giving birth to full term infants, phospholipids of women giving birth to pre term infants had a higher content of arachidonic acid (20:4 omega 6) and all the species of omega 6 fatty acids. They also had a lower concentration of palmitic and eicosapentanoic (20: 5 omega 3) acids and thus a higher arachidonic acid/eicosapentanoic acid ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
A high arachidonic acid content in phospholipids of erythrocytes could be a risk factor or predictive marker for pre term deliveries.
Departamentos de Nutrición y de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
J
J
Araya
M
M
Rojas
P
P
Fernández
A
A
Mateluna
D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D002149:Energy Intake; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid