title: Longitudinal assessment of erythrocyte fatty acid composition throughout pregnancy and post partum.
abstract: Transfer of fatty acids from mother to fetus during pregnancy is a requirement for optimal fetal growth. We report a longitudinal study of full maternal erythrocyte fatty acid profile assessed at each trimester of pregnancy [mean 12.5 (range 8-14), 26.1 (24-28) and 35.5 (33-38) weeks' gestation] and in the post partum period [18.1 (12-26) weeks]. The study recruited healthy women (n=47) from routine antenatal clinics at the Princess Royal Maternity Unit, Glasgow, Scotland. There were increases in 16:1n7 (22%, p=0.0005), 24:1n9 (13%, p=0.0032), 22:5n6 (25%, p=0.0003), 18:3n3 (41%, p=0.0007) and 22:6n3 (20%, p=0.0005) concentrations during pregnancy. The greatest increases took place between gestations at sampling of 12.5 and 26.1 weeks. The change in 16:1n7 concentration between gestations at sampling of 12.5 and 35.3 weeks was negatively associated with maternal booking body mass index (r=-0.40, p=0.006). The change in 22:6n3 concentration was correlated with the change in 24:1n9 (r=0.70, p<0.001). In samples taken four months post partum, 14:0 concentration was lower (29%, p=0.0002) and 24:0 concentration (15%, p=0.0009) and n6/n3 ratio (11%, p=0.0019) were higher than at a gestation at sampling of 12.5 weeks. In conclusion, several fatty acids are specifically mobilised during pregnancy. The correlation between maternal 22:6n3 and 24:1n9 suggests that mobilisation of these fatty acids may be coordinated. The inverse relationship between 16:1n7 and maternal central obesity warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, G31 2ER, UK.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Rodie
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Dilys J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids