Maternal-fetal N-6 and N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids gradient in plasma and red cell phospholipids

Fatty acid distribution was investigated in ethnically and economically homogenous Korean mothers (n = 40) and neonates. Venous blood, maternal before delivery. and cord, was obtained. Choline (CPG) and;. ethanolamine (EPG): phosphoglycerides and. sphingomyelin (SM), were assayed. Mean arachidonic acid (AA) level was higher in plasma CPG and SM (p < 0.0001), and red cell CPG (p < 0.0001), EPG (p < 0.0001) and SM (p = 0.005) of the neonates. Similarly, the neonates had higher proportions of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in plasma CPG (p < 0.0001) and red cell CPG (p = 0.001) and EPG (p = 0.036). In contrast, linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids were significantly higher in maternal blood., Mead acid was elevated in plasma CPG, (p < 0.0001) and red cell CPG and EPG (p < 0.0001) of the neonates. Consistent with data from high-fat-intake populations, our subjects, whose traditional diet is low in fat, exhibited maternal-fetal gradient in AA and DHA in plasma and red cell phospholipids. This may be due to an:imbalance between supply and maternal and fetal requirements, and/or a physiological response to pregnancy. Prenatal nutritional constraint is associated with impaired development and a risk of chronic diseases in adults. AA And DHA. are vital nutrients.-Hence, there is a need to investigate whether the discrepancy between maternal, and neonatal AA and DHA is a manifestation of nutritional insufficiency.