title: Higher Maternal Plasma n-3 PUFA and Lower n-6 PUFA Concentrations in Pregnancy Are Associated with Lower Childhood Systolic Blood Pressure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suboptimal maternal diet during pregnancy might lead to fetal cardiovascular adaptations with persistent consequences in the offspring.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the associations of maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations during pregnancy with childhood blood pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a population-based prospective cohort study among 4455 mothers and their children, we measured maternal second-trimester n-3 (ω-3) and n-6 (ω-6) PUFA concentrations in plasma glycerophospholipids and expressed n-3 and n-6 PUFAs as proportions of total PUFAs (wt%). Childhood blood pressure was measured at the median age of 6.0 y (95% range: 5.7-7.9 y). We used linear regression models to assess the associations of maternal PUFA wt% with childhood blood pressure at 6 y.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher total maternal n-3 PUFA wt% and, specifically, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) wt% were associated with lower childhood systolic blood pressure [differences: -0.28 (95% CI: -0.54, -0.03) and -0.29 mm Hg (95% CI: -0.54, -0.03) per SD increase of total n-3 PUFAs and DHA wt%, respectively], but not with childhood diastolic blood pressure. Total maternal n-6 PUFA wt% was positively associated with childhood systolic blood pressure [differences: 0.36 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.09, 0.62) per SD increase of total n-6 PUFA wt%], but not with childhood diastolic blood pressure. A higher n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio was associated with higher childhood systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05). Pregnancy and childhood characteristics only partly explained the observed associations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher maternal plasma n-3 PUFA and lower n-6 PUFA concentrations during pregnancy are associated with a lower systolic blood pressure in childhood. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings, explore the underlying mechanisms, and examine the long-term cardiovascular consequences.
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and.
authors.forename: Aleksandra Jelena
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vidakovic
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and.
authors.forename: Olta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gishti
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Epidemiology, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; and.
authors.forename: Jolien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steenweg-de Graaff
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duijts
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and.
authors.forename: Janine F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology, and.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Epidemiology, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; and.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tiemeier
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and v.jaddoe@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Vincent W V
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Departments of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and.
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaillard
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009426:Netherlands; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010743:Phospholipids
keywords: PUFAs; blood pressure; childhood; cohort; pregnancy