title: Longitudinal circulating concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the third trimester of pregnancy in gestational diabetes.
abstract: Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common complication of pregnancy. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are essential for fetal neurodevelopment. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the predominant n-3 LCPUFA in the brain and retina. Circulating absolute concentrations of total n-3 and n-6 LCPUFAs rise during normal pregnancy. It remains unclear whether gestational diabetes may affect the normal rise in circulating concentrations of LCPUFAs in the third trimester of pregnancy - a period of rapid fetal neurodevelopment. This study aimed to address this question.
  
  
  
  In a prospective singleton pregnancy cohort, fatty acids in fasting plasma total lipids were measured at 24-28 and 32-35 weeks of gestation in women with (n = 24) and without gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 116). Fatty acid desaturase activity indices were estimated by relevant product-to-precursor fatty acid ratios. Dietary nutrient intakes were estimated by a food frequency questionnaire.
  
  
  
  Plasma absolute concentrations of total n-6 LCPUFAs rose significantly between 24-28 and 32-35 weeks of gestation in women with or without gestational diabetes, whereas total n-3 LCPUFAs and DHA concentrations rose significantly only in women without gestational diabetes (all P < 0.01). Delta-5 desaturase indices (20:4n-6/20:3n-6) were similar, but delta-6 desaturase indices (18:3n-6/18:2n-6) were significantly lower in women with gestational diabetes at 32-35 weeks of gestation. Dietary intakes of all fatty acids were comparable.
  
  
  
  The normal rise in circulating absolute concentrations of DHA and total n-3 LCPUFAs in the third trimester of pregnancy may be compromised in gestational diabetes, probably due to impaired synthesis or mobilization rather than dietary intake difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shatenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Canada.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Oncologic Endocrinology and Human Genomics Research Center, University Hospital Research Center, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Julien
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montoudis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spahis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sainte Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nuyt
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte Justine Hospital Research Centre, University of Montreal, Canada.|Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Z C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1794-1312
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004435:Eating; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases