Intakes of essential n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids among pregnant Canadian women.
BACKGROUND
Fetal growth requires n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is derived from the essential n-3 fatty acids in the maternal diet. DHA is accumulated in the developing brain and is critical for normal neural and visual function. Available estimates suggest that 67 mg DHA/d is accumulated by the fetus during the third trimester of gestation. Little is known about n-3 fatty acid intakes in pregnant women, although human milk concentrations of DHA have decreased in recent years.


OBJECTIVE
We prospectively determined the n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intakes of 55 pregnant Canadian women.


METHODS
A food-frequency questionnaire was completed at 28 and 35 wk, and plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were measured at 35 wk gestation. The fatty acid composition of approximately 500 foods was analyzed to allow analysis of dietary intakes from specific foods.


RESULTS
Intakes, as a percentage of energy, were (macro x +/- SEM) total fat, 28.0 +/- 3.6%; saturated fat, 9.8 +/- 0.3%; monounsaturated fat, 11.2 +/- 0.4%; polyunsaturated fat, 4.7 +/- 0.2%; linoleic acid, 3.9 +/- 0.2%; and alpha-linolenic acid, 0.54 +/- 0.05%. The daily intakes (range) were 160 +/- 20 (24-524) mg DHA/d, 121 +/- 8 (15-301) mg arachidonic acid/d, and 78 +/- 2 (4-125) mg eicosapentaenoic acid/d. The plasma phospholipids had (mg/100 g fatty acid) 5.0 +/- 0.18 DHA, 8.7 +/- 0.18 arachidonic acid, and 0.52 +/- 0.32 eicosapentaenoic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
The low intake of DHA among some pregnant women highlights the need for studies to address the functional significance of maternal fat intakes during pregnancy on fetal development.
Innis
Sheila M
SM
Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. sinnis@interchange.ubc.ca
Elias
Sandra L
SL
D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D002170:Canada; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid