Fatty Acid Composition of the Erythrocyte Membranes Varies between Early-Term, Full-Term, and Late-Term Infants in Japan

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 73; no. 4; p. 335
• Main Authors: Kitamura, Yohei, Kogomori, Chieko, Hamano, Hirokazu, Maekawa, Iwao, Shimizu, Takashi, Shiga, Seigo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Fatty acid composition; Term infants; Gestational period; Docosahexaenoic acid
• ISSN: 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000494886

Term infants can be categorized into 3 sub-groups: early term (37w0d to 38w6d), full term (39w0d to 40w6d), and late term (41w0d and beyond). However, the fatty acid composition among the 3 groups of term infants has not been investigated. The association between fatty acid composition and gestational period of term infants in Japan is unclear. We assessed the fatty acid composition of maternal erythrocyte membranes in the third trimester and of cord erythrocyte membranes at birth in 212 healthy term Japanese infants using data from a prospective hospital-based cohort study. In maternal erythrocyte membranes, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and omega-3 index were significantly higher in the late-term group than in the early-term group. In cord erythrocyte membranes, DHA levels were not significantly different between the 3 groups; late-term infants showed significantly higher DHA/arachidonic acid (ARA) and lower 20: 3n-6 and ARA levels compared to early-term infants. Gestational period positively correlated with the DHA status in maternal and cord erythrocyte membranes. Fatty acid composition in maternal and cord erythrocyte membranes varies between early-, full-, and late-term infants, and the greater gestational period may contribute to the relatively high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids status in term infants. Furthermore, maternal DHA status in the third semester directly correlates with gestational period in pregnant Japanese women.