Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in mothers of preterm babies

Anitha S Kilari1, Savita S Mehendale, Kamini D Dangat

  • 1Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune 411043, India.

Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|September 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) levels are linked to higher concentrations in preterm infants, suggesting a crucial role for maternal nutrition and breast milk in infant development.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neonatal Nutrition
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are vital long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) for fetal and neonatal development.
  • Preterm birth is associated with altered nutrient transfer and increased demands for essential fatty acids.
  • Understanding maternal-fetal and maternal-infant transfer of DHA and AA is crucial for optimizing preterm infant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the levels of DHA and AA in maternal plasma, cord blood plasma, maternal erythrocytes, and breast milk of mothers delivering preterm infants.
  • To explore the associations between maternal and cord blood levels of DHA and AA.
  • To examine the relationship between maternal fatty acid levels and their presence in breast milk.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 63 mothers delivering preterm infants was recruited.
  • Plasma and erythrocyte levels of DHA and AA were measured in mothers and their newborns.
  • Breast milk fatty acid composition was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Cord blood DHA and AA levels were significantly higher than maternal blood levels.
  • Maternal plasma and erythrocyte DHA/AA levels showed positive correlations.
  • Maternal DHA levels (plasma and erythrocyte) were positively associated with cord blood DHA levels.
  • Maternal plasma omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids correlated positively with corresponding fatty acids in breast milk.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated fetal DHA and AA levels indicate a specific mechanism to meet fetal demands.
  • Higher DHA in breast milk suggests its importance for preterm infants' postnatal requirements.
  • Lower maternal erythrocyte DHA in preterm delivery cases may be linked to oxidative stress, potentially influencing labor onset.
Abstract

More Related Videos

The Use of Gas Chromatography to Analyze Compositional Changes of Fatty Acids in Rat Liver Tissue during Pregnancy11:08

The Use of Gas Chromatography to Analyze Compositional Changes of Fatty Acids in Rat Liver Tissue during Pregnancy

Published on: March 13, 2014

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body01:31

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various  biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Membrane Fluidity01:23

Membrane Fluidity

Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.Fatty acids tails of phospholipids can be either saturated or...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile01:25

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile

Understanding serum lipids is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease and stroke.
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...