Long-term effects of trans fatty acid intake during pregnancy and lactation: does it have deleterious consequences?

Placental transfer of lipid moieties is relatively low compared with other nutrients, but alterations of lipid components at the maternal site during pregnancy and/or lactation may have negative long-term consequences in the offspring. Industrial hydrogenation of edible oils produces trans fatty acids (TFAs). TFAs enhance inflammatory markers and insulin resistance, cross the placenta and interfere in the conversion of essential fatty acids into their long-chain derivatives, which are critical in perinatal development. Pisani et al. have described that adult offspring of rats fed a TFA-rich diet during pregnancy and lactation, and exposed to the same diet after weaning, have increased serum insulin and adiponectin, body fat and adipose tissue PAI-1 mRNA. The experimental design used does not allow the mechanism(s) involved to be established, but recognition of the deleterious consequences of the intake of TFAs during pregnancy and lactation contributes to the public awareness for reducing the consumption of foods containing partially hydrogenated fats.