Plasma ω-3 fatty acids in pregnancy are inversely associated with postpartum weight retention in a multiethnic Asian cohort.
Background:Studies have demonstrated associations between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and adiposity. It is unclear whether PUFAs in pregnancy have an effect on maternal weight retention after childbirth, which can contribute to long-term obesity.Objective:We examined the association of maternal plasma PUFAs in pregnancy with 18-mo postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in a multiethnic Asian cohort.Design:We studied pregnant women (n= 653) recruited between June 2009 and September 2010 from a prospective cohort. At 26-28 wk of gestation, plasma phosphatidylcholine PUFA concentrations were measured and determined as percentages of total fatty acids (FAs). PPWR was calculated based on the difference between measured weight at the first antenatal clinic visit and at 18 mo postpartum.Results:The median retained weight of women was 0.90 kg (IQR: -1.40, 3.25) at 18 mo postpartum. Of 653 women, 544 women (83.3%) had PPWR of <5 kg and 109 (16.7%) had PPWR of ≥5 kg. In adjusted linear regression models, higher plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total ω-3 (n-3) PUFA concentrations were associated with lower PPWR [EPA: β = -0.62 kg/1% increase of total FAs (95% CI: -1.18, -0.05); DHA: β = -0.24 kg/1% increase (95% CI: -0.45, -0.02); total ω-3 PUFAs: β = -0.20 kg/1% increase (95% CI: -0.36, -0.03)], whereas a higher ratio of plasma ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFAs was associated with a higher PPWR [β = 0.21 kg/unit increase (95% CI: 0.05, 0.36)].Conclusions:Higher plasma percentages of ω-3 PUFAs and a lower ratio of ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFAs in the late-second trimester of pregnancy are associated with less weight retention at 18 mo postpartum. This may offer an alternative strategy to assist postpartum weight reduction by increasing EPA and DHA status together with a decreased ratio of ω-6-to-ω-3 PUFA through diet or fish-oil supplementation during pregnancy. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01174875.
Departments of Reproductive Medicine.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
See Ling
SL
Loy
Paediatrics and.
Michelle Jia Hui
MJH
Ng
Center for Quantitative Medicine.|Tampere Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Yin Bun
YB
Cheung
Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and.|Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.|National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Keith M
KM
Godfrey
Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.|National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Philip C
PC
Calder
Paediatrics and.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
Ngee
N
Lek
Paediatrics and.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.|Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Fabian
F
Yap
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and.|Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany.
Falk
F
Müller-Riemenschneider
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and.
Padmapriya
P
Natarajan
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and.|Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences and.
Yap-Seng
YS
Chong
Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Kok Hian
KH
Tan
Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.|Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
Lynette Pei-Chi
LP
Shek
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and.|Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences and.|Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; and.
Mary Foong-Fong
MF
Chong
Departments of Reproductive Medicine, jerrychan@duke-nus.edu.sg.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
Jerry Kok Yen
JKY
Chan
D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001835:Body Weight; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
adiposity; obesity; polyunsaturated fatty acids; postpartum weight; pregnancy