Higher de novo synthesized fatty acids and lower ω3-and ω6-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in umbilical vessels of women with preeclampsia and high fish intakes

Umbilical veins (UV) and arteries (UA) of preeclamptic women in Curacao harbor lower long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP). The present aim was to test these findings in Mwanza (Tanzania), whose inhabitants have high LCP omega 3 and LCP omega 6 intakes from Lake Victoria fish. Women with preeclampsia (n = 28) in Mwanza had lower PUFA and higher 20:0 in UV and UA, compared with normotensive/non-proteinuric controls (n = 31). Their UV 22:6 omega 3, 22:4 omega 6, LCP omega 6, omega 6, and LCP omega 3+omega 6 were lower, while saturated FA, potentially de novo synthesized FA (Sigma de novo) and (Sigma de novo)l (LCP omega 3+omega 6) ratio were higher. Their UA had higher 16:1 omega 7, omega 7, 18:0, and 16:1 omega 7/16:0. Umbilical vessels in Mwanza had higher 22:6 omega 3, LCP omega 3, omega 3, and 16:0, and lower 22:5 omega 6, 20:2 omega 6, 18:1 omega 9, and omega 9, compared to those in Curacao. Preeclampsia in both Mwanza and Curacao is characterized by lower LCP and higher Sigma de novo. An explanation of this might be placental dysfunction, while the similarity of umbilical vessel FA-abnormalities in preeclamptic and diabetic pregnancies suggests insulin resistance as a common denominator. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.