The imperative of arachidonic acid in early human development.
Prog Lipid Res
; 91: 101222, 2023 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36746351
ABSTRACT
This review is about the role of arachidonic acid (ArA) in foetal and early growth and development. In 1975 and '76, we reported the preferential incorporation of ArA into the developing brain of rat pups, its conservation as a principal component in the brains of 32 mammalian species and the high proportion delivered by the human placenta for foetal nutrition, compared to its parent linoleic acid (LA). ArA is quantitatively the principal acyl component of membrane lipids from foetal red cells, mononuclear cells, astrocytes, endothelium, and placenta. Functionally, we present evidence that ArA, but not DHA, relaxes the foetal mesenteric arteries. The placenta biomagnifies ArA, doubling the proportion of the maternal level in cord blood. The proportions of ArA and its allies (di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), adrenic acid and ω6 docosapentaenoic acid) are similar or higher than the total of ω3 fatty acids in human milk, maintaining the abundant supply to the developing infant. Despite the evidence of the importance of ArA, the European Food Standard Agency, in 2014 rejected the joint FAO and WHO recommendation on the inclusion of ArA in infant formula, although they recommended DHA. The almost universal dominance of ArA in the membrane phosphoglycerides during human organogenesis and prenatal growth suggests that the importance of ArA and its allies in reproductive biology needs to be re-evaluated urgently.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ácidos Docosahexaenoicos
/
Ácido Linoleico
Límite:
Animals
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Female
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Humans
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Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Prog Lipid Res
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article