OBJECTIVES AND METHODSIn order to study the fatty acid transfer from the mother to fetus, their fatty acid profiles were compared by 37 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord plasma specimens obtained from healthy Japanese women at delivery.

RESULTSThe fetal/maternal fatty acid concentration ratios differed among individual fatty acids. The ratios were low for linoleic acid (LN, 0.12±0.04) and linolenic acid (LnN, 0.07±0.05) but high for arachidonic acid (AA, 0.66±0.17) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 0.44±0.13). Significant correlations were observed between the maternal and fetal EPA (r=0.74) and DHA (r=0.40) concentrations.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that DHA and AA are preferentially transferred to the fetus. Fetal fatty acid profile reflects the maternal intake of EPA and DHA.