Influence of assisted reproductive technology procedures on the fatty acid status and their association with birth outcome.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the influence of assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures on maternal and placental fatty acid status and their correlation with placental weight and birth outcome.

METHODS

Pregnant women were recruited at Gupte Hospital, Pune, India and grouped as those with natural pregnancy (non-ART) (n = 93) and those who underwent ART procedures (ART) (n = 64). Fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography. Group comparisons were performed using an independent t-test. Partial correlation test controlling for maternal age, body mass index, gestational age and baby sex was used for association of fatty acid status with placental weight and birth outcome.

RESULTS

Maternal and placental total omega-3 fatty acids were significantly lower (P = 0.023 and P = 0.050 respectively) and the omega-6: omega-3 fatty acid ratio was higher (P = 0.041 and P = 0.050, respectively) in ART pregnancies in comparison to natural pregnancies. The ART group, further categorized as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), showed lower maternal dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) (P = 0.033) and placental docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) levels only in the IVF group (0.011) and not in the IUI group in comparison to the non-ART group. Placental arachidonic acid (AA), omega-6 and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels were negatively associated, whereas placental monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels were positively associated with placental weight (P < 0.001 for others and P = 0.008 for MUFA) and birth weight (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.004, P = 0.005, respectively).

CONCLUSION

ART procedures, particularly IVF, are associated with disturbed maternal and placental fatty acid metabolism that influences placental weight and, thereby, birth outcome.