Gestational age in relation to marine n-3 fatty acids in maternal erythrocytes: a study of women in the Faroe Islands and Denmark

Article Abstract:

Premature birth increases the risk of infant death during childbirth and the newborn period, or first four weeks of life. The causes of premature birth in industrialized countries are not known. Studies show that birth weights, the length of pregnancy, and the rate of induced deliveries are increased among women living in the Faroe Islands, where the population has a very high consumption of marine foods (seafood). The high maternal consumption of marine fat, which has high levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids, may increase birth weight by prolonging the duration of pregnancy. Increased intake of long-chain n-3 fatty acids decreases the formation of dienoic prostaglandin F2-alpha and E2, which promote childbirth. The levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids in maternal erythrocytes (red blood cells) and the relation between long-chain n-3 fatty acids and the duration of pregnancy were assessed in 62 Faroese and 37 Danish women. The ratio of long-chain n-3 fatty acids to arachidonic acid, a measure of the long-chain n-3 fatty acid levels, was higher in the Faroese women. However, a 20 percent increase in this ratio was associated with an increase in pregnancy duration of 5.7 days in Danish women and 0.7 days in Faroese women. These findings suggest that the relation between consumption of long-chain n-3 fatty acids and pregnancy duration is weaker than expected in the Faroese women who have higher levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Prevention, Food and nutrition, Pregnant women, Premature labor, Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega 3 fatty acids, Marine fishes

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Effects of fish oil supplementation in the third trimester of pregnancy on prostacyclin ad thromboxane production

Article Abstract:

Fish oil supplementation appears to reduce the production of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) in pregnant women. Overproduction of TxA2 has been associated with pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and preeclampsia, which is a complication of late pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and an excess of protein in the urine. Of 47 pregnant women, 24 took 2.7 grams of fish oil daily, 10 took 1 gram capsules of olive oil daily and 13 did not take any supplement. In the maternal blood samples, there was no significant difference in the level of TxB2, which is the main by-product of TxA2, in any of the groups. In blood samples taken from the fetuses however, the level of TxB2 was lowest in the group whose mothers took fish oil supplements.

Fish oils, Prostacyclin

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Prostacyclin/thromboxane early changes in pregnancies that are complicated by preeclampsia

Article Abstract:

Pregnant women who have a 6-keto-prostaglandin F(sub 1alpha) to thromboxane B(sub 2) ratio of 3.0 or less at 22 to 26 weeks have a high risk of developing a serious complication of pregnancy called preeclampsia. The lower this ratio is, the more likely the woman is to have chronically constricted blood vessels. This in turn causes high blood pressure, which is one of the symptoms of preeclampsia.

All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing, Chemical preparations, not elsewhere classified, Fatty Acids & Derivatives NEC, Development and progression, Prostaglandins, Preeclampsia

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