Hornstra G
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 May;71(5 Suppl):1262S-9S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/71.5.1262s.
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their long-chain polyenes (LCPs) are indispensable for human development and health. Because humans cannot synthesize EFAs and can only ineffectively synthesize LCPs, EFAs need to be consumed as part of the diet. Consequently, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status of the developing fetus depends on that of its mother, as confirmed by the positive relation between maternal PUFA consumption and neonatal PUFA status. Pregnancy is associated with a decrease in the biochemical PUFA status, and normalization after delivery is slow. This is particularly true for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) because, on the basis of the current habitual diet, birth spacing appeared to be insufficient for the maternal DHA status to normalize completely. Because of the decrease in PUFA status during pregnancy, the neonatal PUFA status may not be optimal. This view is supported by the lower neonatal PUFA status after multiple than after single births. The neonatal PUFA status can be increased by maternal PUFA supplementation during pregnancy. For optimum results, the supplement should contain both n-6 and n-3 PUFAs. The PUFA status of preterm neonates is significantly lower than that of term infants, which is a physiologic condition. Because the neonatal DHA status correlates positively with birth weight, birth length, and head circumference, maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy may improve the prognosis of preterm infants. In term neonates, maternal linoleic acid consumption correlates negatively with neonatal head circumference. This suggests that the ratio of n-3 to n-6 PUFAs in the maternal diet should be increased. Consumption of trans unsaturated fatty acids appeared to be associated with lower maternal and neonatal PUFA status. Therefore, it seems prudent to minimize the consumption of trans fatty acids during pregnancy.
必需脂肪酸（EFAs）及其长链多烯（LCPs）对人类发育和健康不可或缺。由于人类无法合成必需脂肪酸，且只能低效合成长链多烯，因此必需脂肪酸需作为饮食的一部分摄入。因此，发育中胎儿的多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）状况取决于其母亲的状况，这一点已通过母体多不饱和脂肪酸摄入量与新生儿多不饱和脂肪酸状况之间的正相关关系得到证实。妊娠与生化多不饱和脂肪酸状况的下降相关，产后恢复正常的过程缓慢。二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）尤其如此，因为基于目前的习惯饮食，生育间隔似乎不足以使母体DHA状况完全恢复正常。由于孕期多不饱和脂肪酸状况下降，新生儿的多不饱和脂肪酸状况可能并非最佳。这一观点得到了多胞胎出生后新生儿多不饱和脂肪酸状况低于单胞胎出生后的支持。孕期母体补充多不饱和脂肪酸可提高新生儿的多不饱和脂肪酸状况。为获得最佳效果，补充剂应同时含有n-6和n-3多不饱和脂肪酸。早产儿的多不饱和脂肪酸状况明显低于足月儿，这是一种生理状况。由于新生儿DHA状况与出生体重、身长和头围呈正相关，孕期母体补充DHA可能改善早产儿的预后。在足月儿中，母体亚油酸摄入量与新生儿头围呈负相关。这表明应提高母体饮食中n-3与n-6多不饱和脂肪酸的比例。反式不饱和脂肪酸的摄入似乎与母体和新生儿较低的多不饱和脂肪酸状况有关。因此，孕期尽量减少反式脂肪酸的摄入似乎是明智的。
