Newborns with lower levels of circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are abdominally more adipose. Issue 3 (5th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sanz, N.; Diaz, M.; López‐Bermejo, A.; Sierra, C.; Fernández, A.; de Zegher, F.; Ibáñez, L.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric obesity. Volume 9:Issue 3(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: e68
• Page End: e72
• Publication Date: 2013-12-05
• Subjects: Obesity in children -- Periodicals; Obesity in adolescence -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; Overweight children -- Periodicals; 618.92398
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2013.00200.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-7174

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="ijpo200-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Maternal nutrition is the main source of Poly‐Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) for the fetus. PUFA may influence the accumulation of fat in early life.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijpo200-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives & Methods</title> <p>In 33 breastfed infants born appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age, we studied whether body composition (judged by absorptiometry at 2 wk and 4 mo) relates to PUFA levels (assessed by gas chromatography) in the maternal or fetal circulation at birth.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijpo200-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Abdominal fat at 2 wk associated negatively to umbilical‐cord levels of separate PUFA (linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentanoic and docosahexaenoic acid; all P between 0.001 and 0.015). Collectively, the assessed <italic>n‐6</italic> PUFA on one hand and the <italic>n‐3</italic> PUFA on the other hand associated negatively to the absolute amount of abdominal fat (in grams; P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and to the relative amount of abdominal fat (fraction of total fat; P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). No other significant associations were observed.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijpo200-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>In conclusion, newborns with lower levels of circulating PUFA were found to be abdominally more adipose. The mechanisms underpinning these associations remain to be determined.</p> </sec> </abstract>