Maternal plasma phosphatidylcholine polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy and offspring growth and adiposity

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 121; pp. 21 - 29
• Main Authors: Bernard, Jonathan Y, Tint, Mya-Thway, Aris, Izzuddin M, Chen, Ling-Wei, Quah, Phaik Ling, Tan, Kok Hian, Yeo, George Seow-Heong, Fortier, Marielle V, Yap, Fabian, Shek, Lynette, Chong, Yap-Seng, Gluckman, Peter D, Godfrey, Keith M, Calder, Philip C, Chong, Mary F.F, Kramer, Michael S, Botton, Jérémie, Lee, Yung Seng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Adiposity; Adiposity - physiology; Advanced Basic Science; alpha-Linolenic Acid - blood; Birth Weight - physiology; Body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Body Mass Index; Child Development - physiology; Child, Preschool; Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - blood; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - blood; Female; Fetal growth; Gestational Age; Growth modelling; Humans; Infant; Infant growth; Infant, Newborn; Male; Obesity - blood; Obesity - pathology; Phosphatidylcholines - blood; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; Fetal growth; RCT; polyunsaturated fatty acids; abdominal circumference; Body composition; Adiposity; docosahexaenoic acid; phosphatidylcholine; AA; arachidonic acid; generalised estimating equation; AC; Growth modelling; PUFA; GEE; linoleic acid; FADS; growing up in Singapore towards healthy outcomes; randomized controlled trial; GUSTO; LCPUFA; eicosapentaenoic acid; PC; LA; ALA; α-linolenic acid; EPA; fatty acid desaturase; HC; head circumference; Infant growth; DHA; long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; Polyunsaturated fatty acids
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2017.05.006

Abstract Background Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for offspring development, but it is less clear whether pregnancy PUFA status affects growth and adiposity. Methods In 985 mother-offspring pairs from the ongoing Singaporean GUSTO cohort, we analyzed the associations between offspring growth and adiposity outcomes until age 5 years and five PUFAs of interest, measured in maternal plasma at 26–28 weeks’ gestation: linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We measured fetal growth by ultrasound (n=924), neonatal body composition (air displacement plethysmography (n=252 at birth, and n=317 at age 10 days), and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (n=317)), postnatal growth (n=979) and skinfold thicknesses (n=981). Results were presented as regression coefficients for a 5% increase in PUFA levels. Results LA levels were positively associated with birthweight (β (95% CI): 0.04 (0.01, 0.08) kg), body mass index (0.13 (0.02, 0.25) kg/m2 ), head circumference (0.11 (0.03, 0.19) cm), and neonatal abdominal adipose tissue volume (4.6 (1.3, 7.8) mL for superficial subcutanous tissue, and 1.2 (0.1, 2.4) mL for internal tissue), but not with later outcomes. DHA levels, although not associated with birth outcomes, were related to higher postnatal length/height: 0.63 (0.09, 1.16) cm at 12 months and 1.29 (0.34, 2.24) cm at 5 years. Conclusions LA was positively associated with neonatal body size, and DHA with child height. Maternal PUFA status during pregnancy may influence fetal and child growth and adiposity.