Intakes of essential n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids among pregnant Canadian women

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 77; no. 2; pp. 473 - 478
• Main Authors: INNIS, Sheila M, ELIAS, Sandra L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.02.2003; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; Arachidonic Acid - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - embryology; Brain - growth & development; Canada; Diet; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Embryonic and Fetal Development - drug effects; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - analysis; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - analysis; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - blood; Female; Food Analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Linoleic Acid - administration & dosage; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; Phospholipids - chemistry; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Prospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vertebrates: reproduction; Women; Canada; North America; America; Human; arachidonic acid; brain development; Feeding behavior; fish intakes; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Lipids; n-3 fatty acid; Essential fatty acids; Feeding; Pregnancy; Fetal development; n-6 fatty acid; Diet; Food intake; docosahexaenoic acid; Unsaturated fatty acid; Female; fetal growth; Macronutrient; women
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/77.2.473
• ISSN: 0002-9165

Fetal growth requires n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is derived from the essential n-3 fatty acids in the maternal diet. DHA is accumulated in the developing brain and is critical for normal neural and visual function. Available estimates suggest that 67 mg DHA/d is accumulated by the fetus during the third trimester of gestation. Little is known about n-3 fatty acid intakes in pregnant women, although human milk concentrations of DHA have decreased in recent years. We prospectively determined the n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intakes of 55 pregnant Canadian women. A food-frequency questionnaire was completed at 28 and 35 wk, and plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were measured at 35 wk gestation. The fatty acid composition of approximately 500 foods was analyzed to allow analysis of dietary intakes from specific foods. Intakes, as a percentage of energy, were (macro x +/- SEM) total fat, 28.0 +/- 3.6%; saturated fat, 9.8 +/- 0.3%; monounsaturated fat, 11.2 +/- 0.4%; polyunsaturated fat, 4.7 +/- 0.2%; linoleic acid, 3.9 +/- 0.2%; and alpha-linolenic acid, 0.54 +/- 0.05%. The daily intakes (range) were 160 +/- 20 (24-524) mg DHA/d, 121 +/- 8 (15-301) mg arachidonic acid/d, and 78 +/- 2 (4-125) mg eicosapentaenoic acid/d. The plasma phospholipids had (mg/100 g fatty acid) 5.0 +/- 0.18 DHA, 8.7 +/- 0.18 arachidonic acid, and 0.52 +/- 0.32 eicosapentaenoic acid. The low intake of DHA among some pregnant women highlights the need for studies to address the functional significance of maternal fat intakes during pregnancy on fetal development.