Revista de nutrición clínica y metabolismo

Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplementation Improves Plasma Lipid Profile in Late Pregnancy

Baha’a M Abu Salma*, Hamed R Takruri, Fawaz A Al Kazaleh, Fida M Thekrallah, Ali I Elmoumani and Kamil M Afram

Background: Pregnant women are exposed to atherogenic state during pregnancy which further characterized by hypertriglyceridemia a n-3 long chain of polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are proposed to have a lipid-lowering effect during pregnancy.
Objective: To explore the possible influence of maternal Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation during the last trimester of pregnancy on serum lipid concentrations.
Methods: The present controlled intervention trial was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecological Department of the Jordan University Hospital from November 2014 to May 2015. 84 pregnant women at 20 weeks of gestation were enrolled and divided into two groups: (1) women (n = 42) who received 600mg DHA and EPA supplementation daily and (2) women (n = 42) who didn’t receive supplementation. Lipid profile and fatty acid levels were measured at the beginning and at the end of treatment.
Results: Women who received supplementation during pregnancy had significantly lower plasma concentration of triacylglycerol (TAG) and higher HDL-C than the control group. Maternal plasma concentration of TAG was independently and inversely associated with n-3 index, and positively associated with the ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids after adjusting of confounders.
Conclusion: DHA and EPA supplementation improves the blood lipid profile in pregnant women through hypotriglyceridemic effects and increase HDL-C concentrations which are associated with reduced incidence of atherogenic disease