RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The essential fatty acids and their long-chain polyunsaturated derivatives (LC PUFAs) are important for the growth and maturation of the fetal organism. OBJECTIVE: The aim of a study was to assess the profile of the essential fatty acids and their LC PUFAs in the blood and adipose tissue of pregnant women and in the cord blood after elective caesarean section. DESIGN: The study group comprised 36 women and 38 their full-term babies born after elective caesarean section. In maternal adipose tissue, maternal blood (separately in plasma and erythrocytes) and cord blood (separately arterial and venous) composition of the fatty acids in total lipids was estimated with gas chromatography. RESULTS: In the maternal plasma and erythrocytes the weight percent content of linoleic acid and alfalinolenic acid was higher and of LC PUFAs was lower than in plasma and erythrocytes from the umbilical vein with the exception of EPA and DPA. In the maternal subcutaneous adipose tissue the content of alfalinolenic acid was higher and of linoleic acid and of LC PUFAs were lower than in maternal plasma and erythrocytes. There was no significant difference in the weight percent content of estimated acids between the venous and arterial umbilical blood. In the maternal plasma the weight percent content of linoleic acid, alfalinolenic acid and LC PUFAs was lower than in the maternal erythrocytes. CONCLUSION: Differences between maternal and cord blood essential fatty acids and their metabolites indicate that preferential placental transfer of n-6 and n-3 fatty acid metabolites or faster metabolic turnover of linolenic and arachidonic acids in the fetus than in mother is possible.
