The relation between the omega-3 index and arachidonic acid is bell shaped: synergistic at low EPA+DHA status and antagonistic at high EPA+DHA status.

Introduction: The relation between docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) vs. arachidonic acid (AA) seems characterized by both synergism and antagonism.

Materials And Methods: Investigate the relation between EPA+DHA and AA in populations with a wide range of EPA+DHA status and across the life cycle.

Postpartum changes in maternal and infant erythrocyte fatty acids are likely to be driven by restoring insulin sensitivity and DHA status.

Introduction: Perinatal changes in maternal glucose and lipid fluxes and de novo lipogenesis (DNL) are driven by hormones and nutrients. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduces, whereas insulin augments, nuclear abundance of sterol-regulatory-element-binding-protein-1 (SREBP-1), which promotes DNL, stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD, also Δ9-desaturase), fatty acid-(FA)-elongation (Elovl) and FA-desaturation (FADS). Decreasing maternal insulin sensitivity with advancing gestation and compensatory hyperinsulinemia cause augmented postprandial glucose levels, adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic glucose- and VLDL-production.

Higher de novo synthesized fatty acids and lower omega3- and omega6-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in umbilical vessels of women with preeclampsia and high fish intakes.

Umbilical veins (UV) and arteries (UA) of preeclamptic women in Curaçao harbor lower long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP). The present aim was to test these findings in Mwanza (Tanzania), whose inhabitants have high LCPomega3 and LCPomega6 intakes from Lake Victoria fish. Women with preeclampsia (n=28) in Mwanza had lower PUFA and higher 20:0 in UV and UA, compared with normotensive/non-proteinuric controls (n=31).

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in maternal and infant nutrition.

Homo sapiens has evolved on a diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP). We have, however, gradually changed our diet from about 10,000 years ago and accelerated this change from about 100 to 200 years ago. The many dietary changes, including lower intake of omega3-fatty acids, are related to 'typically Western' diseases.

Plasma choline and betaine and their relation to plasma homocysteine in normal pregnancy.

Background: Plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) decrease during pregnancy. This reduction has been investigated in relation to folate status, but no study has addressed the possible role of betaine and its precursor choline.

Objective: We investigated the courses of plasma choline and betaine during normal human pregnancy and their relations to plasma tHcy.