Roberto Matorras, Jose Ignacio Ruiz, Lourdes Perteagudo, Maria Jose Barbazan, Arantza Diaz, Amelia Valladolid, Pablo Sanjurjo
Longitudinal study of fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids during pregnancy
Aim: To assess the modifications of the main fatty acids
(FA) in plasma and red blood cells during pregnancy.
Methods: A longitudinal study of 36 normal pregnant
women was carried out with 3 cut-off points: first trimester,
second trimester and third trimester. 14 FA in
plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids were measured
using capillary gas chromatography. Measurements
were expressed in percentages and in absolute values.
Results: In plasma there was a significant increase in
the proportion of saturated FA and a decrease in the
proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA) both in the omega 6 (?6) and omega 3 (?3)
series. On the other hand, in erythrocyte phospholipids
there was a decrease in the proportion of eicosapentaenoic
acid and an increase in that of docosahexaenoic
acid. In the ?6 series, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid
increased, whereas the ?6 docosapentaenoic acid decreased.
Conclusion: There was a significant decrease in the
proportion of ?3 PUFA in plasma from the first to the
third trimester. Thus, it is suggested that the ?3 PUFA
intake during pregnancy should be increased in the last
trimester.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 29, 08/2001
Pages: 293 - 297
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