ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Fetal growth requires n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is derived from the essential n-3 fatty acids in the maternal diet. DHA is accumulated in the developing brain and is critical for normal neural and visual function. Available estimates suggest that 67 mg DHA/d is accumulated by the fetus during the third trimester of gestation. Little is known about n-3 fatty acid intakes in pregnant women, although human milk concentrations of DHA have decreased in recent years. OBJECTIVE: We prospectively determined the n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intakes of 55 pregnant Canadian women. DESIGN: A food-frequency questionnaire was completed at 28 and 35 wk, and plasma n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were measured at 35 wk gestation. The fatty acid composition of approximately 500 foods was analyzed to allow analysis of dietary intakes from specific foods. RESULTS: Intakes, as a percentage of energy, were (macro x +/- SEM) total fat, 28.0 +/- 3.6%; saturated fat, 9.8 +/- 0.3%; monounsaturated fat, 11.2 +/- 0.4%; polyunsaturated fat, 4.7 +/- 0.2%; linoleic acid, 3.9 +/- 0.2%; and alpha-linolenic acid, 0.54 +/- 0.05%. The daily intakes (range) were 160 +/- 20 (24-524) mg DHA/d, 121 +/- 8 (15-301) mg arachidonic acid/d, and 78 +/- 2 (4-125) mg eicosapentaenoic acid/d. The plasma phospholipids had (mg/100 g fatty acid) 5.0 +/- 0.18 DHA, 8.7 +/- 0.18 arachidonic acid, and 0.52 +/- 0.32 eicosapentaenoic acid. CONCLUSION: The low intake of DHA among some pregnant women highlights the need for studies to address the functional significance of maternal fat intakes during pregnancy on fetal development.
Subject(s)
Diet , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage , Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/administration & dosage , Food Analysis , Adult , Arachidonic Acid/administration & dosage , Brain/embryology , Brain/growth & development , Canada , Docosahexaenoic Acids/administration & dosage , Eicosapentaenoic Acid , Embryonic and Fetal Development/drug effects , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/analysis , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/blood , Fatty Acids, Omega-6 , Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/analysis , Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/blood , Female , Humans , Linoleic Acid/administration & dosage , Phospholipids/chemistry , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Prospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , alpha-Linolenic Acid/administration & dosageABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate intake and identify major dietary sources of trans-fatty acids consumed by healthy, pregnant women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prospective study using a food intake questionnaire designed specifically to estimate trans-fatty acid intakes calculated from a trans-fatty acid food database developed by food analysis. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Healthy, pregnant women (n=60) were recruited in Vancouver, BC, Canada. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 9.0, descriptive statistics were applied to all variables and paired t tests were used to determine differences in intakes between second and third trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: The mean fat intakes (in g/person/day) for the second and third trimesters, respectively, were: 85.8 and 73.9 total fat, 31.5 and 26.4 monounsaturated, 29.7 and 26.3 saturated, 13.6 and 12.2 polyunsaturated, and 3.8 and 3.4 trans. Fat represented 28% of dietary energy in both trimesters. The major sources of trans-fatty acids were bakery foods (33% of trans-fatty acid intake), fast foods (12%), breads (10%), snacks (10%), and margarines/shortenings (8%). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Women following diets providing about 30% energy from fat consumed about 90% of trans-fatty acids as invisible fat, with less than 10% from table spreads. Dietitians should educate pregnant clients about hidden sources of trans-fatty acids and emphasize the importance of dietary fat composition.
