Abstract
Background
Cord serum (CS) phospholipid fatty acid composition is associated with maternal diet during foetal life, and maternal intake of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2ω-6) and α-linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3 ω-3) has been shown to influence the LA and LNA levels in CS. A possible connection between the increased incidence of atopic diseases and increased intake of LA and decreased intake of LNA in the Western world has been proposed.
Aim
The aim of this study was to explore phospholipid fatty acid proportions and total IgE levels in CS from Swedish children, collected from 1985 to 2005, a period with increasing frequency of allergic diseases in Sweden, and reveal possible changes over time.
Method
Phospholipid fatty acids and total IgE antibodies were analysed with gas chromatography and UniCAP® technology, respectively, in 300 CS samples.
Results
The proportions of LA and LNA decreased significantly from 1985 to 2005 (p < 0.001 for both). However, the LA/LNA ratio did increase (p < 0.001), revealing a relatively larger decrease in LNA than in LA. No correlations were found between ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids and total IgE antibodies in CS from newborn children.
Conclusions
The LA/LNA ratio increased (p < 0.001) in cord serum samples collected between 1985 and 2005, and no correlations between fatty acids and total IgE were found.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Innis SM (2007) Fatty acids and early human development. Early Hum Dev 83(12):761–766
Crawford MA (1993) The role of essential fatty acids in neural development: implications for perinatal nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr 57(5 Suppl):703S–9S. discussion 9S–10S
Hulbert AJ (2003) Life, death and membrane bilayers. J Exp Biol 206(Pt 14):2303–2311
Bourre JM (2004) Roles of unsaturated fatty acids (especially omega-3 fatty acids) in the brain at various ages and during ageing. J Nutr Health Aging 8(3):163–174
Rump P, Hornstra G (2002) The n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids in pregnant women and their infants. Relationship with maternal linoleic acid intake. Clin Chem Lab Med 40(1):32–39
Dutta-Roy AK (2000) Transport mechanisms for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human placenta. Am J Clin Nutr 71(1 Suppl):315S–322S
Chalon S, Vancassel S, Zimmer L, Guilloteau D, Durand G (2001) Polyunsaturated fatty acids and cerebral function: focus on monoaminergic neurotransmission. Lipids 36(9):937–944
Deckelbaum RJ, Worgall TS, Seo T (2006) n-3 fatty acids and gene expression. Am J Clin Nutr 83(6 Suppl):1520S–1525S
Khanapure SP, Garvey DS, Janero DR, Letts LG (2007) Eicosanoids in inflammation: biosynthesis, pharmacology, and therapeutic frontiers. Curr Top Med Chem 7(3):311–340
Asher MI, Montefort S, Bjorksten B, Lai CK, Strachan DP, Weiland SK et al (2006) Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC phases one and three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet 368(9537):733–743
Eder W, Ege MJ, von Mutius E (2006) The asthma epidemic. N Engl J Med 355(21):2226–2235
Black PN, Sharpe S (1997) Dietary fat and asthma: is there a connection? Eur Respir J 10(1):6–12
Hodge L, Peat JK, Salome C (1994) Increased consumption of polyunsaturated oils may be a cause of increased prevalence of childhood asthma. Aust N Z J Med 24(6):727
Calder PC, Miles EA (2000) Fatty acids and atopic disease. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 11(Suppl 13):29–36
Dunder T, Kuikka L, Turtinen J, Rasanen L, Uhari M (2001) Diet, serum fatty acids, and atopic diseases in childhood. Allergy 56(5):425–428
Kull I, Bergstrom A, Lilja G, Pershagen G, Wickman M (2006) Fish consumption during the first year of life and development of allergic diseases during childhood. Allergy 61(8):1009–1015
von Mutius E, Martinez FD, Fritzsch C, Nicolai T, Roell G, Thiemann HH (1994) Prevalence of asthma and atopy in two areas of West and East Germany. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 149(2 Pt 1):358–364
Duchen K, Casas R, Fageras-Bottcher M, Yu G, Bjorksten B (2000) Human milk polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids and secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies and early childhood allergy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 11(1):29–39
Furuhjelm C, Warstedt K, Larsson J, Fredriksson M, Bottcher MF, Falth-Magnusson K et al (2009) Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy. Acta Paediatr 98(9):1461–1467
Ronmark E, Bjerg A, Perzanowski M, Platts-Mills T, Lundback B (2009) Major increase in allergic sensitization in schoolchildren from 1996 to 2006 in northern Sweden. J Allergy Clin Immunol 124(2):357–363, 63 e1-15
Folch J, Lees M (1957) Sloane Stanley GH. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 226(1):497–509
Kaluzny MA, Duncan LA, Merritt MV, Epps DE (1985) Rapid separation of lipid classes in high yield and purity using bonded phase columns. J Lipid Res 26(1):135–140
Pietsch A, Lorenz RL (1993) Rapid separation of the major phospholipid classes on a single aminopropyl cartridge. Lipids 28:945–947
Furuhjelm C, Warstedt K, Fageras M, Falth-Magnusson K, Larsson J, Fredriksson M, et al. (2011) Allergic disease in infants up to 2 years of age in relation to plasma omega-3 fatty acids and maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation. Pediatric allergy and immunology: official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. [Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t] 22(5):505–514
Ailhaud G, Massiera F, Weill P, Legrand P, Alessandri JM, Guesnet P (2006) Temporal changes in dietary fats: role of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in excessive adipose tissue development and relationship to obesity. Prog Lipid Res 45(3):203–236
Black PN (1999) The prevalence of allergic disease and linoleic acid in the diet. J Allergy Clin Immunol 103(2 Pt 1):351–352
Bolte G, Frye C, Hoelscher B, Meyer I, Wjst M, Heinrich J (2001) Margarine consumption and allergy in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 163(1):277–279
Sala-Vila A, Miles EA, Calder PC (2008) Fatty acid composition abnormalities in atopic disease: evidence explored and role in the disease process examined. Clin Exp Allergy 38(9):1432–1450
Warstedt K, Furuhjelm C, Duchen K, Falth-Magnusson K, Fageras M (2009) The effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in pregnancy on maternal eicosanoid, cytokine, and chemokine secretion. Pediatr Res 66(2):212–217
Pesonen M, Kallio MJ, Siimes MA, Elg P, Bjorksten F, Ranki A (2008) Cord serum immunoglobulin E as a risk factor for allergic symptoms and sensitization in children and young adults. Pediatr Allergy Immunol
Kjellman NI, Croner S (1984) Cord blood IgE determination for allergy prediction—a follow-up to seven years of age in 1,651 children. Ann Allergy 53(2):167–171
Sandberg M, Frykman A, Ernerudh J, Berg G, Matthiesen L, Ekerfelt C et al (2009) Cord blood cytokines and chemokines and development of allergic disease. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 20(6):519–527
Bonnelykke K, Pipper CB, Bisgaard H (2008) Sensitization does not develop in utero. J Allergy Clin Immunol 121(3):646–651
Vatten LJ, Bjerve KS, Andersen A, Jellum E (1993) Polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum phospholipids and risk of breast cancer: a case–control study from the Janus serum bank in Norway. Eur J Cancer 29A(4):532–538
Al MD, van Houwelingen AC, Kester AD, Hasaart TH, de Jong AE, Hornstra G (1995) Maternal essential fatty acid patterns during normal pregnancy and their relationship to the neonatal essential fatty acid status. Br J Nutr 74(1):55–68
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the midwives at the maternity ward at the University Hospital in Linköping for endless patience with collecting the cord blood samples. Professor Birgitta Strandvik and Mrs. Berit Holmberg, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of the Health of Women and Children, Göteborg University, Göteborg, are acknowledged for kindly providing the PUFA phospholipids analysis technique. We also wish to thank Dr. Olle Eriksson and Dr. Anneli Sepa for statistical guidance and Dr. Jenny Walldén for laboratory support. The study was financially supported by the Swedish Nutrition Foundation (SNF).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Warstedt, K., Duchén, K. Increased linoleic acid/α-linolenic acid ratio in Swedish cord blood samples collected between 1985 and 2005. Eur J Nutr 52, 659–665 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0369-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0369-6