Anthropometric characteristics of study cohort at Visit 1.

<p>Data are means ± SD. <i>p</i>-value:comparison between visits within each group. Maternal blood was obtained following fasting. GA-Gestational age; AA-African American; Cauc-Caucasian; other-Hispanic, Asian.</p><p>Anthropometric characteristics of study cohort at Visit 1.</p

Effect of maternal omega 3 supplementation on inflammatory markers.

<p><b>A. Placenta.</b> Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of total RNA isolated from placenta tissue. <b>B. Maternal white adipose tissue.</b> Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of total RNA isolated from adipose tissue. Data (mean ± SEM) were expressed as copies per ng RNA in placebo vs. ω3-PUFA treated after normalization to β-actin. Total RNA was isolated from placenta and adipose tissue collected at the time of cesarean section from the recruited women. IL8, IL6, TNFα and TLR4 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative RT-PCR analysis. IL, interleukin; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor alpha; TLR4, toll-like receptor 4; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-PCR.</p

In vitro effects of dietary fatty acids on TLR4 signaling pathways in placental and adipose cells.

<p><b>A-B. Stimulation of TLR4 mRNA.</b> Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of TLR 4 from total RNA isolated from cultured trophoblast cells (A) or stromal adipose cells (B)from 4–10 obese women. <b>C-D. Stimulation of IL6, IL8 mRNA.</b> Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of IL6 and IL8 from total RNA isolated from cultured trophoblast cells (C) or stromal adipose cells (D)from 4–14 obese women. Cells were stimulated for 24h with 100 ng/ml LPS, PA 500 μM, OA 500 μM, EPA 50 μM and DHA 50 μM. LPS, lipopolysaccharide; PA, palmitic acid; IL, interleukin; TLR4, toll-like receptor 4; OA, oleate; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-PCR. Data (mean ± SEM) were expressed as fold changes in FA/ω3-PUFA-treated vs. untreated after normalization to β-actin. Statistical significance: * p< 0.05 vs. control; ^¥ p< 0.05 vs. PA-stimulation of IL6; ^§ p< 0.05 vs. PA-stimulation of IL8.</p

Maternal fatty acid profile at visit 1 and visit 2.

<p>Data are means ± SD. <i>p</i>-value:comparison between placebo and ω-3 treated groups at visit 1 and 2.</p><p>ɸ <i>p</i> < 0.005</p><p>NS-not significant.</p><p>Maternal fatty acid profile at visit 1 and visit 2.</p