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Fatty acid status of women of reproductive age

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 518–524 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: Healthy foetal and infant development is dependent on an adequate maternal supply of essential and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). While there are published data on the fatty acid status of pregnant women, there are few on the status of non-pregnant women of reproductive age. The aims of this study were to test the hypotheses that the fatty acid status of non-pregnant women is affected by socio-economic status and anthropometric, behavioural and obstetric factors.

Design: Observational study

Methods: One-hundred and thirty-five women of child-bearing age (mean 29.8 y, s.d. 6.92) were invited to provide a blood sample and to answer a questionnaire, of whom 114 were included in the study. Plasma and red cell total fatty acids were measured as their methyl esters by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Results: On multivariate analyses, use of hormonal contraception was independently associated with lower plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids (difference between means −2.76, 95% confidence interval (−4.64, −0.88), P=0.0034), whereas cigarette smoking was associated with higher red cell oleic acid (0.74 (0.18, 1.29), P=0.0094). Fish intake was associated with higher red cell total n-3 fatty acids (0.62 (0.27, 0.85), P=0.0014).

Conclusions: We have reported data on the range of the fatty acids of plasma and red blood cells (RBC) total lipids of 114 healthy women of reproductive age. These data provide further information on how socio-economic, anthropometric, behavioural and obstetric factors may be relevant to female and nutrition and health.

Sponsorship: University of Glasgow.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 518–524

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Acknowledgements

Dr Berry is supported by a Medical Research Council Clinical Training Fellowship. We thank all the women who participated in this study. We also thank Professor Forrester Cockburn, Professor Ian Greer, Mrs Nell Caine and Mr Martin McMillan for their help.

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Author notes

  1. LT Weaver: Guarantor: LT Weaver.

  2. C Berry, C Montgomery, N Sattar, J Norrie and LT Weaver: Contributors: CB was responsible for the concept, the study design, the data collection, the data interpretation and the writing of the manuscript. CM contributed to the data analysis and interpretation, and the writing of the manuscript. NS contributed to the study design, the data interpretation and the writing of the manuscript. JN was involved in the design of the study, the data analysis, the data interpretation and the writing of the manuscript. LTW contributed to the data interpretation and the writing of the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK

    C Berry

  2. Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, UK

    C Montgomery & LT Weaver

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK

    N Sattar

  4. Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow, Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow, UK

    J Norrie

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  1. C Berry
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Correspondence to C Berry.

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Berry, C., Montgomery, C., Sattar, N. et al. Fatty acid status of women of reproductive age. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 518–524 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601176

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