TY - JOUR

T1 - Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the relationship between polyunsaturated and trans fatty acids during pregnancy and offspring weight development

AU - Ren, Xuan

AU - Vilhjálmsdóttir, Birgitta Lind

AU - Rohde, Jeanett Friis

AU - Walker, Karen Christina

AU - Runstedt, Suzanne Elizabeth

AU - Lauritzen, Lotte

AU - Heitmann, Berit Lilienthal

AU - Specht, Ina Olmer

N1 - Copyright © 2021 Ren, Vilhjálmsdóttir, Rohde, Walker, Runstedt, Lauritzen, Heitmann and Specht.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and trans fatty acids (TFAs) may have an impact on offspring weight development. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines to evaluate whether levels of these fatty acids during pregnancy influenced offspring weight development. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with DHA and/or EPA supplementation or cohort studies, which examined levels of DHA, EPA, or TFAs in maternal or neonatal blood samples and recorded offspring weight, were included. Overall, 27 RCTs and 14 observational studies were identified. The results showed that DHA and/or EPA supplementation doses >650 mg/day resulted in slightly higher birth weight (MD 87.5 g, 95% CI 52.3-122.6, n = 3,831) and combined BMI and BMI z score at 5-10 years (SMD 0.11, 95% CI 0.04-0.18, n = 3,220). These results were rated as moderate quality. Results from the observational studies were generally inconsistent. High TFA levels during pregnancy seemed to be associated with lower birth weight. Finally, this review and meta-analysis supports a relationship between high maternal or neonatal DHA and/or EPA levels and higher offspring birth weight and weight in childhood. More high-quality long-term studies are still needed.

AB - Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and trans fatty acids (TFAs) may have an impact on offspring weight development. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines to evaluate whether levels of these fatty acids during pregnancy influenced offspring weight development. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with DHA and/or EPA supplementation or cohort studies, which examined levels of DHA, EPA, or TFAs in maternal or neonatal blood samples and recorded offspring weight, were included. Overall, 27 RCTs and 14 observational studies were identified. The results showed that DHA and/or EPA supplementation doses >650 mg/day resulted in slightly higher birth weight (MD 87.5 g, 95% CI 52.3-122.6, n = 3,831) and combined BMI and BMI z score at 5-10 years (SMD 0.11, 95% CI 0.04-0.18, n = 3,220). These results were rated as moderate quality. Results from the observational studies were generally inconsistent. High TFA levels during pregnancy seemed to be associated with lower birth weight. Finally, this review and meta-analysis supports a relationship between high maternal or neonatal DHA and/or EPA levels and higher offspring birth weight and weight in childhood. More high-quality long-term studies are still needed.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - N-3 LCPUFA

KW - TFA

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Infant

KW - Birth weight

KW - Weight in childhood

KW - BMI in childhood

U2 - 10.3389/fnut.2021.625596

DO - 10.3389/fnut.2021.625596

M3 - Review

C2 - 33842522

VL - 8

JO - Frontiers in Nutrition

JF - Frontiers in Nutrition

SN - 2296-861X

M1 - 625596

ER -