A Study on Correlation Among Cord Blood Arachidonic Acid Level, Birth Weight, and Placental Weight

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Arachidonic acid is known to have effects on cell growth as a controller of cell proliferation and a stimulator of platelet derived growth factor. We investigated the correlations among birth weight, placental weight and free arachidonic acid level in cord blood. METHODS: Twenty full-term well babies were included in this study. Those who had sepsis, IUGR, twin that may affect the level of arachidonic acid, birth weight, and/or placental weight were excluded. Free arachidonic acid level were measured by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry. (GC-MS) Correlation Pearson Coefficients were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients between birth weight and placental weight, birth weight and arachidonic acid level, and placental weight and arachidonic acid level were 0.727 (P0.05), 0.407 (P>0.05) respectively. CONCLUSION: There was statistically significant positive correlation between birth weight and placental weight. But since cord blood free arachidonic acid levels were not correlated with placental weight and birth weight, we conclude that cord blood free arachidonic acid level has no effects on fetal growth and placental growth.