title: Composition of fatty acids in the maternal and umbilical cord plasma of adolescent and adult mothers: relationship with anthropometric parameters of newborn.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Considering the importance of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to fetal development and the lack of studies that have compared the status of fatty acids between adolescents and adults mothers, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the composition of fatty acids in maternal and umbilical cord plasma from adolescent and adults mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty pregnant adolescents and forty pregnant adults were selected to assess the distribution profile of fatty acids in the maternal and umbilical cord plasma. Quantification of fatty acids in the total lipids of the sample groups was performed through the use of gas-liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maternal and umbilical cord plasma of the adolescents showed a greater concentration of AA than did that of the adults (P < 0.05). However, a greater percentage of EPA was found in the umbilical cord plasma of the adults (P < 0.05). DHA in the plasma of the adolescent mothers correlated positively to birth weight and head circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This suggests that in situations of greater nutritional risk, as in adolescent pregnancy, n-3PUFA concentrations have a greater influence on the proper development of newborns. Moreover, variations in fatty acid concentrations in the maternal and cord plasma of adolescents and adults may indicate that pregnancy affects the LC-PUFA status of adults and adolescents in distinct ways.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Biochemical Laboratory, Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Olívia R C
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Michelle G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Flávia S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Felipe D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Fátima L C
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Sardinha
authors.forename: Glória V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tavares do Carmo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3