Sensitivity of fetus to excess levels of maternal intakes of alpha linolenic acid

January 7, 2008

Hello everyone,

Thought you might find this interesting...

Monika M. Woolsey

Reprod Toxicol. 2007 Nov-Dec;24(3-4):333-42. Epub 2007 Jul 28. Links

Sensitivity of fetus and pups to excess levels of maternal intakes of alpha

linolenic acid at marginal protein levels in Wistar rats. Rao SS, Kale AA,

Joshi SR, Mahadik SP.

There is growing interest in the role omega 3 fatty acids (n3), in promoting

fetal growth. Present study examined whether alpha linolenic acid, primary

vegetarian dietary omega 3 fatty acid source and precursor to cellular membrane

phospholipid eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, can improve birth

outcome. Pregnant dams from three groups (seven in each) were fed: control diet

(18% protein with 7% soybean oil, normal alpha linolenic acid), or two treatment

diets at marginal protein level of 12%; one with 7% soybean oil (Treatment I,

normal alpha linolenic acid), and other with 3% flax oil and 4% soybean oil

(Treatment II, four times normal alpha linolenic acid) during gestation. There

was a reduction in litter size and litter weight (p<0.05) at birth in the

Treatment II group as compared to the Control group. Alpha linolenic acid

(p<0.05), eicosapentaenoic acid (p<0.05) levels increased while arachidonic acid

levels (p<0.05) reduced in gastric milk at birth and

blood at end of lactation in Treatment II as compared to Treatment I group.

Brain fatty acid levels showed reduction (p<0.05) only in docosahexaenoic acid

levels in dams from Treatment I and Treatment II, at the end of lactation.

Results suggest sensitivity of fetus and pups for excess levels of alpha

linolenic acid 'in a diet at marginal protein level'.

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