title: Maternal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid levels during pregnancy and childhood lipid and insulin levels.
abstract: Maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels are associated with cord blood lipid and insulin levels. Not much is known about the influence of maternal PUFAs during pregnancy on long-term offspring lipid and insulin metabolism. We examined the associations of maternal plasma n-3 and n-6 PUFA levels during pregnancy with childhood lipid and insulin levels.
  
  
  
  In a population-based prospective cohort study, among 3230 mothers and their children, we measured maternal second trimester n-3 and n-6 PUFA plasma levels. At the median age of 6.0 years (95% range, 5.6-7.9), we measured childhood total-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin and c-peptide levels. Higher maternal total n-3 PUFA levels, and specifically DHA levels, were associated with higher childhood total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels (p-values <0.05), but not with LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Maternal total n-6 PUFA levels were not associated with childhood outcomes, but higher levels of the individual n-6 PUFAs, EDA and DGLA were associated with a lower childhood HDL-cholesterol, and higher AA levels with higher childhood total-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels (all p-values <0.05). A higher maternal n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was only associated with lower childhood HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels (p-values <0.05). These associations were not explained by childhood body mass index.
  
  
  
  Higher maternal total n-3 PUFAs and specifically DHA levels during pregnancy are associated with higher childhood total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and insulin levels. Only individual maternal n-6 PUFAs, not total maternal n-6 PUFA levels, tended to be associated with childhood lipid and insulin levels.
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vidakovic
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: V W V
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Voortman
authors.affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, München, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demmelmair
authors.affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, München, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koletzko
authors.affiliation: The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.gaillard@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaillard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009035:Mothers; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002096:C-Peptide; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D007328:Insulin; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Children; Cohort; Insulin level; Lipid level; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Pregnancy