Serum fatty acids are positively associated with changes in systemic blood pressure throughout pregnancy

Objectives: To assess whether serum concentrations of saturated (SFAs), polyunsaturated (PUFAs), and mono- unsaturated (MUFAs) fatty acids are associated with changes in blood pressure (BP) throughout pregnancy. Study design: Prospective cohort. Main outcome measures: Longitudinal measurements of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP. Methods: Two hundred twenty-three healthy pregnant women were recruited in a public health center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil between 2009 and 2011. Fasting blood samples and BP measurements were obtained at the 1st (5th–13th weeks), 2nd (20th–26th) and 3rd trimester (30th–36th). Crude and adjusted (maternal age, education, energy intake, gestational body weight change, leptin concentrations, early pre-pregnancy BMI, leisure time physical activity prior to pregnancy and linear and quadratic gestational weeks) longitudinal linear mixed-effects models were employed. Results: SBP and DBP decreased from the 1st to the 2nd trimester and slightly increased from the 2nd to the 3rd trimester (P < 0.001). In the adjusted model (ß and 95% CI), total SFAs [0.005 (0.001–0.008); P = 0.008], total MUFAs [0.005 (0.001–0.009); P =0.019] and total n-6 PUFAs [0.005 (0.001–0.009); P =0.025] were positively associated with SBP throughout pregnancy. Conclusions: Maternal serum concentrations of total SFAs, MUFAs and n-6 PUFAs were positively associated with BP levels in normotensive pregnant women

Longitudinal association of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D with adipokines and markers of glucose metabolism among Brazilian pregnant women

This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association of vitamin D status with glycaemia, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), adiponectin and leptin. A prospective cohort with 181 healthy, pregnant Brazilian women was followed at the 5th–13th, 20th–26th, and 30th–36th gestational weeks. In this cohort, 25(OH)D plasma concentrations were analysed using liq¬uid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vitamin D status was categorized as sufficient or insufficient using the Endocrine Society Practice Guidelines (ES) (≥75/<75 nmol/L) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (≥50/<50 nmol/L) thresholds. Linear mixed-effect regression models were employed to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and each outcome, considering the interaction terms between vitamin D status and gestational age (P<0.1). At baseline, 70.7% of pregnant women had 25(OH)D levels <75 nmol/L and 16% had levels <50 nmol/L. Women with sufficient vitamin D status at baseline, using both the ES and IOM thresholds, presented lower glycaemia than those with insufficient 25(OH)D. Pregnant women with 25(OH)D concentrations <75 nmol/L showed lower insulin (β=-0.12; 95% CI -0.251, 0.009; P=0.069) and adiponectin (β=-0.070; 95% CI -0.150, 0.010; P=0.085) concentrations throughout pregnancy than those with 25(OH)D levels ≥75 nmol/L. Pregnant women with 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L at baseline presented significantly higher leptin concentrations than those with 25(OH)D levels ≥50 nmol/L (β=-0.253, 95% CI: -0.044; 0.550, P=0.095). The baseline status of vitamin D influences the biomarkers involved in glucose metabolism. Vitamin D sufficient women at baseline had higher increases of insulin and adiponectin changes throughout gestation than those who were insufficient

Lower inter-partum interval and unhealthy life-style factors are inversely associated with n-3 essential fatty acids changes during pregnancy: a prospective cohort with Brazilian women.

To analyze serum fatty acids concentrations during healthy pregnancy and evaluate whether socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric, nutritional, anthropometric and lifestyle factors are associated with their longitudinal changes.A prospective cohort of 225 pregnant women was followed in the 5th-13th, 20th-26th and 30th-36th weeks of gestation. Serum samples were collected in each trimester of pregnancy and analyzed to determine the fatty acids composition using a high-throughput robotic direct methylation method coupled with fast gas-liquid chromatography. The independent variables comprised the subjects' socioeconomic and demographic status, obstetric history, early pregnancy body mass index (BMI), dietary and lifestyle parameters. Analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects models.The overall absolute concentrations of fatty acids increased from the 1st to the 2nd trimester and slightly increased from the 2nd to the 3rd trimester. Early pregnancy BMI, inter-partum interval and weekly fish intake were the factors associated with changes in eicosapentaenoic + docosahexaenoic acids (EPA+DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Early pregnancy BMI, age and monthly per-capita income were inversely associated with the changes in the n-6/n-3 ratio. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with the n-6/n-3 ratio.Early pregnancy BMI was positively associated with EPA+DHA and total n-3 PUFAs, while presenting a reduced weekly fish intake and a lower inter-partum interval were associated with lower levels of n-3 PUFAs. A lower per-capita family income and a drinking habit were factors that were positively associated with a higher n-6/n-3 ratio

Factors associated with eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) longitudinal changes.

<p>Notes: BMI = Body Mass Index; SE = Standard Error; EPA = eicosapentaenoic, DHA = docosahexaenoic, total n-3 = 18:3n3 + 20:5n3 + 22:5n3 + 22:6n3.</p><p>Number of observations and number of groups respectively: 521/193 for EPA+DHA; 521/193 for total n-3.</p><p>*Data was not presented because the variable did not remain statistically significant in the final model.</p><p>^a β = longitudinal linear regression coefficient.</p><p>^b p-value refers to maximum likelihood estimator.</p><p>^c The first category is the reference and the second is the exposure.</p><p>Factors associated with eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) longitudinal changes.</p

Serum concentrations of (A) EPA+DHA and (B) total n-3 PUFAs according to weekly fish intake.

<p>EPA = eicosapentaenoic, DHA = docosahexaenoic, PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acids. Figures were constructed based on linear mixed effect models estimates. Observations per waves of follow-up according to weekly fish intake group (no intake/1–340 g/> 340 g): 1^st trimester = 71/107/13, 2^nd trimester = 66/102/13 and 3^rd trimester = 57/85/8. Differences between subgroups in EPA+DHA concentrations (no intake and 1–340 g; p-value = 0.018), (1–340 g and > 340 g; p-value = 0.004). Differences between subgroups in total n-3 PUFAs concentrations (no intake and 1–340 g; p-value = 0.095), (1–340 g and > 340 g; p-value = 0.004). Mean gestational age (95% Confidence Interval) at pregnancy trimesters: 1^st = 9.6 (9.3–9.9), 2^nd = 23.4 (23.2–23.7) and 3^rd = 32.4 (32.0–32.8).</p

Factors associated with total n-6 polyunsaturated and n-6/n-3 ratio fatty acids longitudinal changes.

<p>Notes: PUFAs = polyunsaturated fatty acids; BMI = Body Mass Index; SE = Standard Error; total n-6 = 18:2n6 + 18:3n6 + 20:2n6 + 20:3n6 + 20:4n6 + 22:4n6 + 22:5n6.</p><p>Number of observations and number of groups respectively: 521/193 for total n-6; 511/189 for n-6/n3 ratio.</p><p>*Data was not presented because the variable did not remain statistically significant in the final model.</p><p>^a β = longitudinal linear regression coefficient.</p><p>^b p-value refers to maximum likelihood estimator.</p><p>^c The first category is the reference and the second is the exposure.</p><p>Factors associated with total n-6 polyunsaturated and n-6/n-3 ratio fatty acids longitudinal changes.</p

Fatty acids changes throughout pregnancy.

<p>SAFAs = saturated fatty acids, MUFAs = monounsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs = polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA = eicosapentaenoic, DHA = docosahexaenoic.</p

Fatty acids concentration changes (μg/mL) throughout pregnancy.

<p>Notes: SAFA = saturated fatty acids; MUFA = monounsaturated fatty acids; PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acids; EPA = eicosapentaenoic; DHA = docosahexaenoic; CI = confidence interval; SE = standard error.</p><p>* p < 0.05</p><p>** p < 0.01</p><p>Fatty acids concentration changes (μg/mL) throughout pregnancy.</p