Efecto de la preñez y la lactancia en el estado nutricional de los ácidos grasos esenciales en la rata / Effect of pregnancy and lactation in nutritional state of essential fatty acids in rats

RESUMO

To study the effect of pregnancy and lactation on red blood cell phospholipids percentual fatty acid composition of virgin, pregnant and lactating rats,,24 pregnant rats of 50ñ1 days of age were supplement with soy and 24 with fish oil during 21 days. Twelve rats of each group were sacrificed after 18 days of lactation, 24 non pregnant rats received soy oil and acted as controls of pregnant and lactating rats. Red blood cell phospholipid fatty acid composition was analized by gas chromatography. The percentage of total w-6 fatty acids of red blood cell phospholipid was 37.8ñ5.9, 32,6ñ0.6 and 38.3ñ3.5 percent in non pregnant, pregnant and lactating rats respectively (p<0.001). The figures for total w-3 fatty acids were 6.33ñ1.52, 4,31ñ0.39 and 2.7ñ0.46 respectively (p<0.001). There was no change in eicosatrienoic fatty acid percentage. Supplementation with fish oil reverted the decrease in w-6 and w-3 fatty acid percentage of pregnant and lactating rats. In conclusion, pregnancy and lactation decrease the capacity to transform precursors of essential fatty acids in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids