(P07-009-23) Relationship Between Maternal and Cord Red Blood Cell (RBC) Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) With and Without Maternal Supplementation

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal and cord blood RBC DHA status in women with and without recommended prenatal DHA intake. We hypothesized that maternal DHA RBC status is positively related to fetal DHA status and recommended supplementation increases fetal DHA RBC content. We chose to study DHA content rather than % of total fatty acids as a more accurate reflection of DHA status.

Methods: Maternal and cord blood and prenatal supplement information were obtained after informed consent from women giving birth at the University of Colorado Hospital. Red blood cells (RBC) were isolated, washed in saline, and frozen at -80C. RBC membrane total lipids were extracted from the equivalent of 1mg RBC protein and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a DHA standard curve to determine content. Maternal and fetal RBC DHA content were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation and 2-way ANOVA to determine their relationship and the impact of supplementation on fetal RBC DHA content.

Results: Including all 24 paired samples, maternal and cord RBC DHA content were significantly correlated with one another (R² = 0.32, P < 0.05) and did not differ from each other. Data were separated by DHA supplement group: 200mg/day (n=10), 50mg/day (n=4), and non-supplemented (n=10). A significant correlation between maternal and cord RBC DHA content was found only in the non-supplemented group (R²= 0.53, P < 0.05). Supplementation with 200mg/day elevated both maternal (393.97 ± 40.5 ng/mg) and cord (369.58 ± 29.9 ng/mg) RBC DHA compared to both 50mg/day (maternal: 294.60 ± 43.8 ng/mg, cord: 270.3 ±16.2 ng/mg) and non-supplemented (maternal: 291.64 ± 27.2 ng/mg, cord: 281.17 ± 20.2 ng/mg). There was no significant difference between 50mg/day and non-supplemented groups.

Conclusions: This data demonstrates that DHA supplementation at the recommended 200mg/day compared to 50 mg/day or no supplementation during pregnancy successfully elevates both maternal and cord RBC DHA at term. However, the relationship between maternal and fetal RBC DHA status is only linear in the lower range. This data suggests that supplementing women with lower dietary DHA intake may have the greatest impact on fetal status and higher than recommended supplement doses may plateau in effectiveness.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by the NIH via RO1 to TLP and T32 to KLB.