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Cited by 8Fatty Acid Research and HealthBirth, Development, and HealthPregnancy and preeclampsia studies

Maternal obesity-induced decreases in plasma, hepatic and uterine polyunsaturated fatty acids during labour is reversed through improved nutrition at conception

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Muir, Ronan, Liu, Ge, Khan, Raheela, Shmygol, Anatoly, Quenby, Siobhan, Gibson, Robert Alan, Muhlhausler, Beverly, Elmes, Matthew·2018·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-018-21809-9PMC PMC5821893
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Abstract

Maternal obesity is associated with prolonged and dysfunctional labour, potentially through decreased synthesis of prostaglandins that stimulate myometrial contractions. We assessed the impact of maternal obesity on concentrations of precursor fatty acids (FA) for prostaglandin synthesis and whether any changes could be reversed by improved nutrition post-conception. Wistar rats were fed control (CON) or High-Fat, High-cholesterol (HFHC) diets 6 weeks before mating. At conception half the dams switched diets providing 4 dietary groups: (1) CON, (2) HFHC, (3) CON-HFHC or (4) HFHC-CON. During parturition rats were euthanized and FA composition of plasma, liver and uterus determined. Visceral fat was doubled in rats exposed to the HFHC diet prior to and/or during pregnancy compared to CON. HFHC diet increased MUFAs but decreased omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs in plasma and liver. Uterine omega-3 FA concentrations were halved in HFHC versus CON rats, but all other FAs were similar. Switching from HFHC to CON diet at conception restored all FA profiles to those seen in CON rats. The increased MUFA and decreased PUFA concentrations in obese HFHC dams may contribute to aberrant prostaglandin synthesis and dysfunctional myometrial activity and it may be possible to reverse these changes, and potentially improve labour outcomes, by improving nutrition at conception.

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Authors
Muir, R., Liu, G., Khan, R., Shmygol, A., Quenby, S., Gibson, R. A., Muhlhausler, B., & Elmes, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
  • South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (AU)
  • United Arab Emirates University (AE)
  • University Hospital Coventry (GB)
Corresponding author
Elmes, Matthew
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-02-21
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
3389-3389
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-018-21809-9
PMC
PMC5821893
OpenAlex
W2793698145
Cited by
8
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
0.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2018-09-27)
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Nottingham ePrints (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Action Medical Research
  • Rosetrees Trust
  • University of Nottingham (BB/J014508/1)
  • United Arab Emirates University
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/J014508/1)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
Keywords
maternal obesity, polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, prostaglandin synthesis, myometrial contraction, labour, visceral fat, high-fat high-cholesterol diet, hepatic fatty acid composition, plasma fatty acid composition
MeSH terms
Animals, Cholesterol, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Female, Fertilization, Labor, Obstetric, Liver, Nutritional Status, Obesity, Pregnancy, Uterus, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Rats, Wistar, Parturition, Rats, Diet, High-Fat

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