Differential Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Status and Placental Transport in Adolescent Pregnancies.

Adolescent pregnancy increases risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Placental delivery of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) is essential for fetal growth and development. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess maternal and fetal status of fatty acids (FA) measured at birth and the expression of key genes involved in FA uptake, transport and metabolism in the placenta of fifteen adolescents and fifteen adults.

Fatty acid profile of maternal and fetal erythrocytes and placental expression of fatty acid transport proteins in normal and intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), mainly docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic acids (AA), are critical for adequate fetal growth and development. We investigated mRNA expression of proteins involved in hydrolysis, uptake and/or transport of fatty acids in placenta of fifteen full term normal pregnancies and eleven pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) with normal umbilical blood flows. The mRNA expression of LPL, FATPs (-1, -2 and -4) and FABPs (-1 and -3) was increased in IUGR placentas, however, tissue profile of LC-PUFA was not different between groups.

Effect of variation of trans-fatty acid in lactating rats' diet on lipoprotein lipase activity in mammary gland, liver, and adipose tissue.

Objective: Lactation is associated with an increase in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in the mammary gland (MG) and a decrease in adipose tissue because lactation redirects circulating substrates to the MG for milk synthesis. We investigated the effects of different dietary contents of trans-fatty acid (TFA) on LPL activity in maternal tissues and fatty acid composition in milk.

Methods: Lactating rats were fed semisynthetic isocaloric diets containing 7% soy oil (control), 7% partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (7%-PHVO), 5% PHVO plus 2% soy oil (5%-PHVO), or 3.