Maternal, placental and cord erythrocyte levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in full-term and preterm pregnancy

BackgroundLong-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are biologically active fatty acids which regulate placental as well as fetal development. Abnormalities in these fatty acids have implications in adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth. In the current study, we examined the maternal and cord erythrocyte LCPUFA levels along with the regional placental LCPUFA levels in women delivering preterm as compared with the women delivering at term.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited 93 women delivering at term and 93 women delivering preterm. Fatty acid levels were analyzed from maternal erythrocyte, placental and cord erythrocyte samples. Samples from two different regions of placenta, maternal and fetal region were studied.ResultsWe observed lower (<i>p</i> = 0.001) cord erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels, lower (<i>p</i> = 0.000) maternal erythrocyte arachidonic acid (ARA) levels and higher (<i>p</i> = 0.002) cord erythrocyte ARA levels in women delivering preterm as compared to those delivering full-term. The placental DHA levels were higher (<i>p</i> = 0.002) on the maternal side of women delivering preterm as compared to women delivering full-term. There was a positive association (<i>p</i> = 0.000) between cord erythrocyte DHA levels with all the newborn characteristics. There was a negative association (<i>p</i> = 0.000) between placental DHA levels from the maternal side with all the newborn characteristics.ConclusionThe imbalance in the levels of maternal DHA and ARA in addition to differential pattern of DHA distribution across the maternal and fetal regions of the placenta may have affected materno-fetal transfer of these fatty acids, therefore responsible for the adverse fetal outcome.