title: Docosahexaenoic acid is selectively enriched in plasma phospholipids during pregnancy in Trinidadian women--results of a pilot study.
abstract: The fetal demand for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has to be satisfied by the mother. We determined the fatty acids in maternal plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), triacylglycerol (TAG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), in a cross-sectional study of non-pregnant (n = 10), pregnant (n = 19), and postpartum (n = 9) women. There were lipid class-dependent differences in plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations between groups. During pregnancy, DHA was most highly enriched in PC, about 230%, with more modest enrichment for linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), and no enrichment of alpha-linolenic acid (alpha-LNA). There was relative enrichment of LA, AA and alpha-LNA in TAG, but not of DHA. There was no specific enrichment of any PUFA in the NEFA pool. These data accord with the suggestion that the enrichment of alpha-LNA in TAG and of DHA in phospholipids reflects hepatic regulation of n-3 PUFA metabolism which potentially enhances the delivery of DHA to the placenta.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, SO16 7PX, UK. g.c.burdge@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Graham C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Burdge
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Zulaika
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wootton
authors.forename: Alan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids