HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Allen, K. G.D. Articles by Harris, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Allen, K. G.D. Articles by Harris, M. A.

---

MINIREVIEW

The Role of n-3 Fatty Acids in Gestation and Parturition

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, FortCollins,Colorado80523

Preterm birth is the most common cause of low infant birth weight and infant morbidity and mortality. Evidence from human and animal studies indicates that essential fatty acids of both the n-3 and n-6 series, and their eicosanoid metabolites, play important and modifiable roles in gestational duration and parturition, and n-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy may be inadequate. Prostaglandins (PG) of the 2-series are involved in parturition and connective tissue remodeling associated with cervical maturation and rupture of membranes. In the absence of infections, preterm birth is characterized by lower reproductive tissue PG production and decreased inducible cyclooxygenase expression. Women who deliver prematurely have increased pools of n-6 fatty acid and decreased n-3 fatty acids, despite the lower PG production. Several human pregnancy supplementation trials with n-3 fatty acids have shown a significant reduction in the incidence of premature deliver and increased birth weight associated with increased gestational duration. Supplementation with long chain n-3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid may be useful in prolonging the duration of gestation in some high-risk pregnancies. Evidence presented in this review is discussed in terms of the roles of dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in gestation and parturition, mechanisms by which they may influence gestational duration and the human trials suggesting that increased dietary long-chain n-3 fatty acids decrease the incidence of premature delivery.

Key Words: n-3 fatty acids • gestation • preterm labor • eicosanoids

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. D Fountain, J. Mao, J. J Whyte, K. E Mueller, M. R Ellersieck, M. J Will, R. M. Roberts, R. MacDonald, and C. S Rosenfeld Effects of Diets Enriched in Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Offspring Sex-Ratio and Maternal Behavior in Mice Biol Reprod, February 1, 2008; 78(2): 211 - 217. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Wathes, D. R. E. Abayasekara, and R. J. Aitken Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Male and Female Reproduction Biol Reprod, August 1, 2007; 77(2): 190 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Olson The Promise of Prostaglandins: Have They Fulfilled Their Potential as Therapeutic Targets for the Delay of Preterm Birth? Reproductive Sciences, October 1, 2005; 12(7): 466 - 478. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Latini, M. Massaro, and C. De Felice Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Intrauterine Inflammation: A Unifying Hypothesis Toxicol. Sci., May 1, 2005; 85(1): 743 - 743. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Arnold, T. V. Lynn, L. A. Verbrugge, and J. P. Middaugh Human Biomonitoring to Optimize Fish Consumption Advice: Reducing Uncertainty When Evaluating Benefits and Risks Am J Public Health, March 1, 2005; 95(3): 393 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Denomme, K. D. Stark, and B. J. Holub Directly Quantitated Dietary (n-3) Fatty Acid Intakes of Pregnant Canadian Women Are Lower than Current Dietary Recommendations J. Nutr., February 1, 2005; 135(2): 206 - 211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Elmes, L. R. Green, K. Poore, J. Newman, D. Burrage, D. R. E. Abayasekara, Z. Cheng, M. A. Hanson, and D. C. Wathes Raised dietary n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake increases 2-series prostaglandin production during labour in the ewe J. Physiol., January 15, 2005; 562(2): 583 - 592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Thorsdottir, B. E. Birgisdottir, S. Halldorsdottir, and R. T. Geirsson Association of Fish and Fish Liver Oil Intake in Pregnancy with Infant Size at Birth among Women of Normal Weight before Pregnancy in a Fishing Community Am. J. Epidemiol., September 1, 2004; 160(5): 460 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Rogers, P Emmett, A Ness, and J Golding Maternal fish intake in late pregnancy and the frequency of low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation in a cohort of British infants J Epidemiol Community Health, June 1, 2004; 58(6): 486 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]