Associations of maternal prenatal dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids with maternal and umbilical cord blood levels

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • S. M.A. Donahue
  • S. L. Rifas-Shiman
  • S. F. Olsen
  • D. R. Gold
  • M. W. Gillman
  • E. Oken

Maternal n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status may influence birth outcomes and child health. We assessed second trimester maternal diet with food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) (n=1666), mid-pregnancy maternal erythrocyte PUFA concentrations (n=1550), and umbilical cord plasma PUFA concentrations (n=449). Mean (SD) maternal intake of total n-3 PUFA was 1.17 g/d (0.43), docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids (DHA+EPA) 0.16 g/d (0.17), and total n-6 PUFA 12.25 g/d (3.25). Mean maternal erythrocyte and cord plasma PUFA concentrations were 7.0% and 5.2% (total n-3), 5.0% and 4.6% (DHA+EPA), and 27.9% and 31.4% (total n-6). Mid-pregnancy diet-blood and blood-blood correlations were strongest for DHA+EPA (r=0.38 for diet with maternal blood, r=0.34 for diet with cord blood, r=0.36 for maternal blood with cord blood), and less strong for n-6 PUFA. The FFQ is a reliable measure of elongated PUFA intake, although inter-individual variation is present.

Original languageEnglish
JournalProstaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Volume80
Issue number5-6
Pages (from-to)289-296
Number of pages8
ISSN0952-3278
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Diet, n-3 fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids, Pregnancy

ID: 307735835