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The effect of maternal T1DM on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyethanolamine in infants during early life

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Abstract

Background

The risk for type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in children of mothers with T1DM is different to that in children of fathers with T1DM. Fatty acid (FA) intake, in particular EPA and DHA, has been associated with T1DM risk and has been suggested to be inadequate in infants of diabetic mothers. We asked, therefore, whether EPA and DHA FA nutritional status in offspring of mothers with T1DM could contribute to their reduced T1DM risk

Methods

BABYDIET follows children with increased genetic and familial risk for T1DM from birth to age 3 years. FA nutritional state was assessed by determining the erythrocyte membrane phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) composition in children of T1DM mothers and children of T1DM fathers or with T1DM siblings participating in the BABYDIET study. Samples for determination of erythrocyte membrane FA composition were collected at ages 3 and 12 months in 48 and 49 infants, respectively. FA measurements were adjusted for breastfeeding duration, FA supplementation, and gluten exposure.

Results

3-months-old children of T1DM mothers and T1DM fathers/sibs had similar levels of PC DHA and EPA (DHA 1.53 ± 0.23 vs. 1.65 ± 0.11 wt.%; EPA 0.15 ± 0.02 vs. 0.21 ± 0.03 wt.%) and PE DHA and EPA (DHA 7.54 ± 0.37 vs. 7.92 ± 0.38 wt.%; EPA 0.53 ± 0.06 vs. 0.61 ± 0.04 wt.%). No differences were also observed after stratification for breastfeeding. At age 12 months, a minor reduction of PE DHA was observed in children of T1DM mothers. Expected higher levels for DHA and EPA in fully breastfed children and in children of mothers taking fish oil supplementation were observed at 3 months in all children. Other differences included increased levels of the major saturated FA 16:0 in 3-months-old infants from T1DM mothers (PC 35.45 ± 0.35 vs. 33.89 ± 0.26 wt.%, mean ± SEM, P corr = 0.005; PE 16.13 ± 0.39 vs. 14.93 ± 0.24 wt.%, P corr = 0.05).

Conclusion

Although FA status was not identical in children from T1DM mothers and from T1DM fathers, maternal T1DM was not associated with changes in offspring’s EPA and DHA incorporation into erythrocyte membrane.

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Abbreviations

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 n-3

FA:

Fatty acid

LC-PUFA:

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acids

PC:

Phosphatidylcholine

PE:

Phosphatidylethanolamine

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

SEM:

Standard error of the mean

SFA:

Saturated fatty acids

T1DM:

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

TLC:

Thin layer chromatography

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Acknowledgments

We thank all families and pediatricians in Germany for participation in the BABYDIET study. The BABYDIET study was supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft ZI 310/14-3). None of the authors had any conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Diabetesforschung, Kölner Platz 1, 80804, Munich, Germany

    Christiane Winkler, Sandra Hummel, Maren Pflüger & Anette-G. Ziegler

  2. Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutrition, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich, Germany

    Christiane Winkler, Julia Geppert, Hans Demmelmair & Berthold Koletzko

  3. Academic Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany

    Anette-G. Ziegler

Authors
  1. Christiane Winkler
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  2. Sandra Hummel
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  4. Anette-G. Ziegler
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  5. Julia Geppert
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  7. Berthold Koletzko
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Correspondence to Anette-G. Ziegler.

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Winkler, C., Hummel, S., Pflüger, M. et al. The effect of maternal T1DM on the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyethanolamine in infants during early life. Eur J Nutr 47, 145–152 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0708-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0708-9

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