title: Proportions and concentrations of serum n-3 fatty acids can be increased by dietary counseling during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mother is an important mediator to the infant of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the essential constituents of membranes particularly in the brain and retina. We here aimed in a prospective study initiated in early pregnancy to establish whether serum fatty acid (FA) compositions and concentrations in the mother can be modified by dietary means emphasizing counseling on a recommended diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety women in the first trimester of pregnancy were randomized into intervention (n=45) or control (n=45) groups. The intervention comprised individual dietary counseling advocating choice of foods that will increase the intake of unsaturated and reduce that of saturated FA. To support this, appropriate products, including spreads, were provided for consumption at home. Dietary intakes were measured from food records and serum phospholipids, cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols FA were analyzed by gas chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary counseling resulted in lower intake of saturated and higher intake of unsaturated FA compared with the controls. These changes were reflected in higher proportions of serum phospholipid PUFA (mean difference between groups 0.61% (95% confidence interval, CI 0.05-1.17), P=0.03), docosahexaenoic acid (0.5% (0.15-0.85), P=0.01), sum of n-3 FA (0.61% (0.07-1.15), P=0.03) and lower ratio of n-6/n-3 FA (-0.42% (-0.81-0.03), P=0.03) in the intervention group at the third trimester of pregnancy but not at 1 month postpartum. Similar changes were seen in the FA of cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal serum n-3 FA status during pregnancy can be improved by dietary means emphasizing the importance of dietary advice.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Paediatrics, Central Hospital of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland [2] Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Turku, Finland [3] Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hautero
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laakso
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linderborg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niinivirta
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poussa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isolauri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laitinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003376:Counseling; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol