Highlights
- •Maternal obesity affects the composition of fatty acids in maternal erythrocytes and placenta, which could impact on their bioavailability for maternal-fetal transfer.
- •The composition of fetal VLDL lipoproteins from newborns of women with obesity is characterized by lower levels of stearic acid, suggesting modifications on fetal fatty acid metabolism.
- •Maternal erythrocytes content of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are correlated with gamma-glutamyl (GGT) transferase activity in umbilical cord blood, indicating its relationship with fetal liver function.
Abstract
Maternal obesity and the imbalance in linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6, LA) and alpha-linolenic
acid (C18:3 n-3, ALA) levels are related with hepatic disturbances in the offspring.
However, whether these alterations are present during fetal life is not well understood.
Obese and normal weight pregnant women were recruited to determine fatty acids (FAs)
consumption, FAs profile (in maternal erythrocytes, placenta and neonatal very low-density
lipoproteins VLDL) and biomarkers of fetal liver function, such as gamma-glutamyl
transferase (GGT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin, in umbilical cord blood. Stearic
acid (C18:0, ST) was lower, and total n-3 FAs tended to be lower in umbilical cord
VLDLs of obese women compared to controls. Independently of maternal obesity, GGT
levels in umbilical cord blood was positively correlated with the LA content and negatively
correlated with the ALA content in maternal erythrocytes. We conclude that maternal
obesity and its imbalance of LA and ALA are associated with changes in biomarkers
of fetal liver function.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 16, 2023
Accepted:
January 15,
2023
Received in revised form:
January 13,
2023
Received:
October 10,
2022
Identification
Copyright
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