Maternal fish consumption, fatty acid levels and angiogenic factors: The Generation R Study.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenic factors, such as placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1), are key regulators of placental vascular development. Evidence from in vitro studies indicates that fatty acids can affect angiogenesis. We investigated the associations of maternal fish consumption and fatty acids levels with angiogenic factors during pregnancy, and in cord blood in a large population-based prospective cohort.


METHODS
First trimester fish consumption was assessed among 3134 pregnant women using a food-frequency questionnaire. Plasma fatty acid levels were measured in second trimester. Plasma PlGF and sFlt-1 were measured in first and second trimester and in cord blood. Associations of fish consumption or fatty acid levels with angiogenic factors were assessed by multivariable linear regression analyses.


RESULTS
There were no consistent associations of total fish or lean fish consumption with levels of PlGF, sFlt-1, or sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Neither fatty fish nor shellfish were associated with angiogenic factors. Plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are the main type of fatty acids in fish, were inconsistently associated with angiogenic factors in second trimester and cord blood. Yet, higher levels of arachidonic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, were associated with lower levels of PlGF and sFlt-1.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no consistent associations of fish consumption or fatty acids levels with angiogenic factors in a population with low fish consumption. Studies including populations with higher fish consumption are required to fully grasp the potential effects of maternal fish consumption on placental angiogenesis.
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Paula K
PK
Bautista Niño
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Myrte J
MJ
Tielemans
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Sarah
S
Schalekamp-Timmermans
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jolien
J
Steenweg-de Graaff
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Albert
A
Hofman
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Henning
H
Tiemeier
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Vincent W
VW
Jaddoe
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Eric A P
EA
Steegers
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Janine F
JF
Felix
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: o.franco@erasmusmc.nl.
Oscar H
OH
Franco
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015930:Diet Records; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
Angiogenesis; Fish; Placental growth factor; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; Soluble Flt-1