Gestational Age Dependency of Essential Fatty Acids in Cord Plasma Cholesterol Esters and Triglycerides

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Plasma cholesterol ester and triglyceride fatty acid compositions of 38 singleton deliveries (23–42 wk), three twins (32, 39, and 40 wk), and their mothers were investigated. No gestational age-dependent changes occurred in maternal fatty acid compositions. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in fetal cholesterol esters and triglycerides were higher, and their precursors (18:2c,ω6 and 18:3c,ω3) were lower than those in corresponding maternal lipid classes. Except for 22:6c,ω3, 20:2c,ω6, and 22:5c,ω6, all long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in fetal triglycerides increased with advancing gestation. Fetal triglyceride 22:6c,ω3/22:5c,ω3 ratio decreased, whereas 22:5c,ω6/22:4c,ω6 remained constant. Fetal cholesterol ester and triglyceride 20:3c,ω9 contents were higher than those of corresponding maternal fractions and did not change with gestation. Triglyceride 18:2c,ω6 contents of babies with gestational ages of more than 34 wk were linearly related to those of their mothers. The data suggest that increasing triglyceride long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content with advancing gestation is partially caused by Δ6− and Δ5-desaturase maturation in the liver. Constancy of 22:6c,ω3 and 22:5c,ω6/22:4c,ω6 and decrease of 22:6c,ω3/22:5c,ω3 in triglycerides may point to low hepatic Δ4-desaturation. Transplacental transport of 20:3c,ω9, followed by fetal conservation, should be considered. High 18:2c,ω6 and low 18:3c,ω3 intakes by the mother may unfavorably influence fetal production of 22:6c,ω3 in the liver. Because of low hepatic Δ4-desaturation capacity the influence may be small, however.

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