title: Impaired maternal glucose homeostasis during pregnancy is associated with low status of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) and essential fatty acids (EFA) in the fetus.
abstract: Low status of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) and essential fatty acids (EFA) in the fetus is associated with less favorable neonatal neurological condition. A 'relative', rather than 'absolute' EFA deficiency might explain this finding. A relative EFA deficiency may derive from impaired maternal glucose homeostasis. We measured fatty acids in umbilical vessels of infants born to 7 mothers with (gestational) diabetes mellitus and of 258 infants born to healthy mothers. Umbilical veins of infants of diabetic mothers had higher omega7 and omega9 fatty acids and DHA deficiency index and lower 20:4omega6 and EFA index. Their umbilical arteries had higher omega7 and omega9 fatty acids, and lower 20:4omega6, LCP and EFA index. We conclude that children born to mothers with poor glucose homeostasis have lower EFA and LCP status, which is consistent with a 'relative deficiency' deriving from augmented de novo fatty acid synthesis from the abundant glucose.
authors: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Room Y1.165, Groningen University Hospital, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. d.a.j.brouwer@lc.umcg.nl
authors: D A Janneke
authors: DA
authors: Dijck-Brouwer
authors: Mijna
authors: M
authors: Hadders-Algra
authors: Hylco
authors: H
authors: Bouwstra
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Decsi
authors: Günther
authors: G
authors: Boehm
authors: Ingrid A
authors: IA
authors: Martini
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rudy Boersma
authors: Frits A J
authors: FA
authors: Muskiet
mesh_terms: D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005947:Glucose