Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Gestational Diabetes

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2018

Authors

Araújo, R (Author) Other; Elisa Keating (Author) FMUP; Martel, F (Author) FMUP

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-017-RVZ

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-56440-1_34

Abstract (EN): Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play a fundamental role during pregnancy for both the health of the pregnant woman and for the growth and development of the fetus, being particularly important for development of the fetal nervous and visual systems. Apart from serving as energy substrates, they are essential components of membrane lipids and precursors of eicosanoids. They also regulate placental development and function, namely angiogenesis, inflammatory status, oxidative stress levels, and hormonal (e.g., leptin) production. Maternal-to-fetal placental transfer of LC-PUFAs is the major determinant of fetal LC-PUFAs bioavailability. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder prevalent among pregnant women. This disease increases the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and diseases in the offspring later in life. GDM appears to be associated with a significant decrease in the placental transport of LC-PUFAs. Given the crucial role of LC-PUFAs in the development of the visual and cognitive function in the fetus, the decrease in placental transfer of LC-PUFAs in GDM pregnancies may constitute a possible explanation for the neurodevelopmental fetal malprogramming associated with GDM. © Springer International Publishing AG 2018.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12