Role of omega‐6 and omega‐3 fatty acids in fetal programming

• Published in: Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology Vol. 47; no. 5; pp. 907 - 915
• Main Authors: Shrestha, Nirajan, Sleep, Simone L., Cuffe, James S.M., Holland, Olivia J., Perkins, Anthony V., Yau, Suk Yu, McAinch, Andrew J., Hryciw, Deanne H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2020
• Subjects: Animal models; Consumption; Diet; essential fatty acid; Fatty acids; fetal programming; Fetuses; Health risk assessment; Human nutrition; Immune system; Linoleic acid; Linolenic acid; maternal nutrition; Nutrition; Offspring; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; sex ratio; linoleic acid; fetal programming; maternal nutrition; sex ratio; essential fatty acid
• ISSN: 0305-1870; 1440-1681; 1440-1681
• DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13244

Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in fetal development and can influence adult onset of disease. Linoleic acid (LA) and alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) are major omega‐6 (n‐6) and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), respectively, that are essential in our diet. LA and ALA are critical for the development of the fetal neurological and immune systems. However, in recent years, the consumption of n‐6 PUFA has increased gradually worldwide, and elevated n‐6 PUFA consumption may be harmful to human health. Consumption of diets with high levels of n‐6 PUFA before or during pregnancy may have detrimental effects on fetal development and may influence overall health of offspring in adulthood. This review discusses the role of n‐6 PUFA in fetal programming, the importance of a balance between n‐6 and n‐3 PUFAs in the maternal diet, and the need of further animal models and human studies that critically evaluate both n‐6 and n‐3 PUFA contents in diets.