Plasma phospholipid n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in relation to cardiometabolic markers and gestational diabetes: A longitudinal study within the prospective NICHD Fetal Growth Studies

Abstract Objectives Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for fetal growth and development, yet longitudinal data on objectively measured maternal PUFAs across pregnancy in relation to fetal growth remain elusive. We prospectively and longitudinally investigated plasma phospholipid PUFAs in pregnancy in relation to neonatal size and body composition. Methods Within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singleton Cohort (n = 2,802), individual plasma phospholipid PUFAs were measured in blood samples collected at gestational weeks (GW) 10–14, 15–26, 23–31, and 33–39 in a subset of 321 women. Birthweight (BW) was abstracted from medical records. Neonatal length and skinfolds were measured and fat mass (FM) and % body fat (BF) were estimated by Catalano's formula. We used linear regression models with robust variance and inverse probability weighting to standardize the sample. Results In late pregnancy at GW 33–39, after adjusting for covariates including prepregnancy body mass index, per unit increase in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was related to a 95.3 g (95% CI 33.6, 157.0) greater BW, 0.49 cm (0.09, 0.90) longer neonatal length, 41.2 g (13.6, 68.9) greater FM, and 0.79% (0.21, 1.37) higher BF. As for n-6 PUFAs, at GW 33–39, arachidonic acid per unit increase was associated with a 41.7 g (5.22, 78.3) greater BW and docosatetraenoic acid (DTA) per unit increase was related to a 462.3g (98.0, 826.6) and 145.5 g (12.1, 278.9) greater BW and FM, respectively. The PUFA n-6/n-3 ratio per unit increase at GW 33–39 was significantly related to a 14.6g (–29.2, –0.04) lower FM. Further, associations of n-3 PUFA with neonatal adiposity varied by prepregnancy obesity and exposure window. Total n-3 PUFA per unit increase at GW 23–31 and 33–39 was associated with 0.68-0.78% greater neonatal BF among women without obesity, whereas at GW 10–14 and 15–26 it was associated with 1.07–1.36% lower BF among women with obesity (P-interaction < 0.001). No significant associations were observed for individual PUFAs in early to mid-pregnancy with neonatal body composition, except for positive associations of DHA and DTA at GW 10–14 with BW. Conclusions Our data suggest that maternal plasma phospholipid PUFAs are implicated in fetal growth and their roles may vary by prepregnancy obesity and timing in pregnancy. Funding Sources NICHD/NIH.

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Plasma Phospholipid n-3/n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Desaturase Activities in Relation to Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity through Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12113544 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3544

Author(s):

Liwei Chen ◽

Yeyi Zhu ◽

Zhe Fei ◽

Stefanie N. Hinkle ◽

Tong Xia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Desaturase Activity ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Plasma Phospholipid ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Maternal Plasma ◽

Dietary Factors

Maternal plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play critical roles in maternal health and fetal development. Beyond dietary factors, maternal moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been linked to multiple health benefits for both the mother and offspring, but studies investigating the influence of maternal MVPA on maternal PUFA profile are scarce. The objective of present study was to examine the time-specific and prospective associations of MVPA with plasma PUFA profile among pregnant women. This study included 321 participants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons cohort. Maternal plasma phospholipid PUFAs and MPVA were measured at four visits during pregnancy (10–14, 15–26, 23–31, and 33–39 gestational weeks (GW)). Associations of maternal MVPA with individual plasma PUFAs and desaturase activity were examined using generalized linear models. Maternal MVPA was associated inversely with plasma phospholipid linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, and Δ6-desaturase in late pregnancy (23–31 or 33–39 GW), independent of maternal age, race, education, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and dietary factors. Findings from this longitudinal study indicate that maternal habitual MVPA may play a role on PUFAs metabolism, particular by alerting plasma n-6 subclass and desaturase activity in late pregnancy. These associations are novel and merit confirmation in future studies.

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Physical Activity and Plasma Phospholipid Saturated Fatty Acids During Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study Within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_102 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1030-1030

Author(s):

Xinyue Liu ◽

Liwei Chen ◽

Zhe Fei ◽

Yeyi Zhu ◽

Mengying Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Saturated Fatty Acids ◽

Plasma Phospholipid ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Repeated Measurements ◽

Growth Studies ◽

Modifiable Factors

Abstract Objectives Saturated fatty acids (SFAs), of both exogenous and endogenous origins, have been implicated in fetal development and pregnancy complications. Thus, it is essential to identify modifiable factors related to SFAs besides dietary intakes. Physical activity (PA) plays an important role in metabolism of SFAs, but the associations of PA with individual SFAs during pregnancy are unknown. The objective of this study is to examine the associations of PA with total and individual SFAs during pregnancy. Methods Study participants are 321 women from a nested case-control study for gestational diabetes mellitus within the prospective NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons (FGS). Individual plasma phospholipid SFAs were measured at the baseline (10–14 gestational weeks [GW]), and the follow-up visits (15–26, 23–31, and 33–39 GW). PA was assessed via the Pregnancy PA Questionnaire at each visit. The associations of total PA (metabolic equivalent hours per week) quartile with maternal phospholipid SFAs were estimated by linear regression models at baseline, and generalized estimation equations (GEEs) which account for repeated measurements at follow-up visits. Resampling weights were applied to represent the entire FGS. Models were adjusted for age, race, parity, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol use, mother born in US, pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index, and Healthy Eating Index. Results Cross the follow-up visits, compared to the lowest quartile of PA, women in the highest quartile had higher total SFAs (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.12 to 1.52; P-trend: 0.02). When separated by even or odd-chain SFAs, the positive association was only observed between PA and even-chain SFAs (Q4 vs. Q1: β = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.12 to 1.50; P-trend: 0.03). No association was observed for individual SFAs cross the follow-up visits. Also, PA was not associated with SFAs at baseline. Conclusions Our finding suggested that PA is positively associated with the maternal even-chain SFAs of both endogenous and exogenous origins, but not with odd-chain SFAs in the second and third trimesters. This finding is novel and warrants the confirmation by future studies. Funding Sources Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Maternal plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy with and without gestational diabetes mellitus: relations with maternal factors

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/70.1.53 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 53-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Vasuki Wijendran ◽

Robert B Bendel ◽

Sarah C Couch ◽

Elliot H Philipson ◽

Kate Thomsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Plasma Phospholipid ◽

Maternal Plasma ◽

Maternal Factors ◽

In Pregnancy

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Abstract P239: Longitudinal Measurement Of Maternal Plasma Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Relation To Physical Activity Throughout Pregnancy-a Prospective Study Within The Nichd Fetal Growth Studies

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.p239 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Liwei Chen ◽

Xinyue Liu ◽

Tong Xia ◽

Mohammad L Rahman ◽

Yeyi Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Energy Expenditure ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Physically Active ◽

Total N ◽

Growth Studies

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a key components of energy expenditure and can alter fat metabolism. Maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly endogenous PUFA, plays critical roles on maternal health and fetal development. However, studies investigating the longitudinal association of PA with PUFA during pregnancy are scarce. Objective: To examine the prospective associations of PA with PUFA among pregnant women. Methods: This study used longitudinal data from a nested gestational diabetes mellitus case-control study (n=321) within the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-Singletons. Plasma phospholipid PUFA and PA were measured at 4 time-points during pregnancy (10-14, 15-26, 23-31, and 33-39 GW). Total PA was calculated as energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent (METs-hour) and physically active was defined as spending ≥150 min on moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week. Associations of PA with total n-3, n-6, and individual PUFAs were examined using generalized linear models where the sample was weighted to represent the entire cohort. Results: Total PA was positively associated with EDA, but inversely associated with ALA and GLA, independent of maternal age, race, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, and dietary intake of FA. Being physically active was inversely associated with total n-3 PUFA but positively associated with total n-6 PUFA. However, the direction of the associations of individual PUFA varied: an inverse association for ALA (n-3) and LA (n-6); a positive association for DHA (n-3), AA (n-6) and DPA (n-6). Conclusions: Findings from this study indicate that PA may alter PUFA metabolism in pregnant women. The inverse association between total PA and GLA (an endogenous PUFA) is novel and merits confirmation in future studies.

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