Maternal and Cord Blood Fatty Acid Profiles and Correlations with Newborn Birth Weight, Length and Head Size in Nigerian Population

Fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA), and arachidonic acid (AA) are essential for the development of the brain and retina, as well as for general health. We conducted a study to examine the associations between the fatty acid compositions of maternal and umbilical cord blood and the birth weight, length, and head circumference of newborns. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria and included pregnant women in their second trimester, at delivery, and their newborns. We collected anthropometric measurements of 73 term newborns. The blood levels of DHA, EPA, AA, ALA, and LA were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients at p = 0.05. We found that DHA and EPA levels significantly increased from the second trimester to delivery, with DHA showing a mean increase of 1.015 mg/L (p = 0.005) and EPA increasing by 0.265 mg/L (p = 0.027). ALA levels significantly differed between mothers and newborns (p = 0.001), indicating metabolic changes during the perinatal period. However, no significant correlations were observed between the examined fatty acids and any of the newborn anthropometric measurements. Maternal and neonatal fatty acid levels did not influence newborn anthropometrics, despite remarkable increases in DHA and EPA concentrations during pregnancy. We recommend further research and promotion of balanced meals rich in essential fatty acids to improve pregnancy outcomes.