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Dietary intake of essential and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy

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Lipids

Abstract

The dietary intake of EFA and long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) by women with (n=14) and without (n=31) gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was determined by repeated 24-h recalls. Women with GDM consumed significantly more energy as fat compared with women who had uncomplicated pregnancies; absolute dietary fat did not differ. Dietary n−3 LCPUFA was substantially lower than the current recommendation for pregnancy, whereas intake of saturated FA (SFA) exceeded it. We conclude that replacing dietary sources of SFA with those of EFA and LCPUFA, especially n−3 LCPUFA, would benefit the dietary fat profiles of all pregnant women.

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Abbreviations

CHO:

carbohydrate

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

GDM:

gestational diabetes mellitus

HbAlc :

hemoglobin Alc

LCPUFA:

long-chain polyunsaturated FA

OGTT:

oral glucose tolerance test

PL:

phospholipid

SFA:

saturated FA

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 3624 Horsebarn Hill Rd., Unit 4017, 06269-4017, Storrs, CT

    Elizabeth D. Loosemore, Michelle P. Judge & Carol J. Lammi-Keefe

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  1. Elizabeth D. Loosemore
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  2. Michelle P. Judge
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  3. Carol J. Lammi-Keefe
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Correspondence to Carol J. Lammi-Keefe.

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Loosemore, E.D., Judge, M.P. & Lammi-Keefe, C.J. Dietary intake of essential and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy. Lipids 39, 421–424 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1246-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1246-y

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