Comparison of plasma and erythrocyte total fatty acid composition from African-American women at 24 weeks gestation, infant delivery, and 3 months postpartum

Ken D. Stark, Skadi Beblo, Mahadev Murthy, Michelle Buda-Abela, James Janisse, Helaine Rockett, Janice E. Whitty, Susan S. Martier, Robert J. Sokol, John H. Hannigan, and Norman Salem Jr.

LMBB, NIAAA, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852

Corresponding Author: nsalem{at}niaaa.nih.gov

Our aim was to examine the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) status of pregnant, African-American women reporting to the antenatal clinic at Wayne State University in a longitudinal study design. Fatty acid compositions of plasma and erythrocyte total lipid extracts and food frequency surveys were determined at 24 weeks of gestation, delivery, and three months postpartum for participants (n = 157). DHA (mean +/- SD) in the estimated total circulating plasma was similar at gestation (384 +/- 162 mg) and delivery (372 +/- 155 mg), but was significantly lower at three months postpartum (178 +/- 81 mg). The relative weight percentage of DHA and docosapentaenoic acid n-6 (DPAn-6, 22:5n-6) decreased postpartum while their respective metabolic precursors, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) increased. Similar results were found in erythrocytes. Dietary intake of DHA throughout the study was estimated at 68 +/- 75 mg/day. The relative amounts of circulating DHA and DPAn-6 were increased during pregnancy as compared to three months postpartum, possibly via increased synthesis from EPA and AA. The low dietary intake and blood levels of DHA in this population as compared to others may not support optimal fetal DHA accretion and subsequent neural development.

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