Association between maternal obesity, essential fatty acids and biomarkers of fetal liver function

Macarena Ortiz, Francisca Sánchez, Daniela Álvarez, Cristian Flores, Francisca Salas-Pérez, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Claudette Cantin, Andrea Leiva, Nicolás Crisosto, Manuel Maliqueo*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Maternal obesity and the imbalance in linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6, LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3, ALA) levels are related with hepatic disturbances in the offspring. However, whether these alterations are present during fetal life is not well understood. Obese and normal weight pregnant women were recruited to determine fatty acids (FAs) consumption, FAs profile (in maternal erythrocytes, placenta and neonatal very low-density lipoproteins VLDL) and biomarkers of fetal liver function, such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin, in umbilical cord blood. Stearic acid (C18:0, ST) was lower, and total n-3 FAs tended to be lower in umbilical cord VLDLs of obese women compared to controls. Independently of maternal obesity, GGT levels in umbilical cord blood was positively correlated with the LA content and negatively correlated with the ALA content in maternal erythrocytes. We conclude that maternal obesity and its imbalance of LA and ALA are associated with changes in biomarkers of fetal liver function.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102541
JournalProstaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Volume190
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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