ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compromises the level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in phospholipids of maternal and fetal red blood cells and fetal plasma. This is of some concern because of the importance of DHA for fetal neuro-visual development. We have investigated whether this abnormality could be rectified by supplementation with DHA-enriched formula. METHODS: Women with GDM (n = 138) recruited from Newham University Hospital, London received two capsules of DHA-enriched formula (active-group) or high oleic acid sunflower seed oil (placebo-group) from diagnosis until delivery. Maternal (baseline and delivery) and fetal (cord blood) red blood cell and plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition, and neonatal anthropometry were assessed. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen women (58 active, 56 placebo) completed the trial. The active-group compared with the placebo-group had significantly enhanced level of DHA in plasma phosphatidylcholine (4.5% vs 3.8%, P = 0.011), red blood cell phosphatidylcholine (2.7% vs 2.2%, P = 0.022) and phosphatidylethoanolamine (9.5% vs 7.6%, P = 0.002). There was no difference in cord plasma and red blood cell phospholipid DHA between the two groups. The neonates of the two groups of women had comparable anthropometric measurements at birth. CONCLUSION: Daily supplementation of 600 mg DHA enhances maternal but not fetal DHA status in pregnancy complicated by GDM. The inefficacy of the supplement to improve fetal status suggests that the transfer of DHA across the placenta maybe impaired in women with the condition. Regardless of the mechanisms responsible for the impairment of the transfer, the finding has implications for the management of neonates of women with GDM because they are born with a reduced level of DHA and the condition is thought to be associated with a risk of neuro-developmental deficits. We suggest that babies of women with GDM, particularly those not suckling, similar to the babies born prematurely require formula milk fortified with a higher level of DHA.
Subject(s)
Diabetes, Gestational/diet therapy , Dietary Supplements , Docosahexaenoic Acids/therapeutic use , Fetal Development , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Intestinal Absorption , Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Adult , Diabetes, Gestational/blood , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Docosahexaenoic Acids/blood , Docosahexaenoic Acids/metabolism , Double-Blind Method , Female , Fetal Blood/chemistry , Humans , Hypoglycemic Agents/blood , Hypoglycemic Agents/metabolism , Infant, Newborn , London , Lost to Follow-Up , Male , Maternal-Fetal Exchange , Nutritional Status , Patient Dropouts , Pregnancy , Sunflower Oil/analysis , Sunflower Oil/metabolism , Sunflower Oil/therapeutic use , Young AdultABSTRACT
The objective was to study the in-vivo hepatoprotective effect of aerial parts of Haloxylon salicornicum (Moq.) Bunge (Family: Chenopodiaceae) in order to validate its traditional use in hepatobiliary disorders, by native people of Cholistan desert, Pakistan. Aerial parts (ethanolic extract) of Haloxylon salicornicum (HS), (500 and 750 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 7 days) were evaluated on CCl(4) intoxicated rabbits (0.75 ml/kg., s/c.) by serum biochemical parameters and liver histopathological observations. Silymarin (100 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 7 days) was used as a standard hepatoprotective drug. CCl(4) intoxicated group had elevated levels of SGOT, SGPT and ALP significantly but TB level was normal as compared to control group. HS extract (both doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg) showed hepatoprotective effect by significant restoration of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and TB levels as compared to CCl4 control. 500 mg/kg doses of HS extract produced more significant results as compared to 750 mg/kg doses and Silymarin. Histopathological examination of liver tissues further substantiated these findings. Therefore, outcome of the present study validate the traditional claims on hepatoprotective effects of Haloxylon salicornicum (aerial parts).
