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Golfetto, Ivan (2003) Essential fatty acids in early development and health. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
Incidence of chronic disorders as atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, stroke and diabetes mellitus has increased significantly in recent decades. All have either a vascular origin and/or a vascular manifestation. Arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids play a vital role in structure and function of vascular and neural tissues, signal transduction and gene expression. During pregnancy, the placenta selectively transfers them. Cord blood contains higher levels of AA and DHA compared to maternal blood during pregnancy, lactation and parity. In this study we analyzed:
a) Fatty acids (FA) in plasma and red blood cells in Karen mothers and their newborn babies from a refugee camp in Thailand and compared with ordinary Vietnamese women and their newborn babies. DHA tend to be high in plasma of Karen babies and low linoleic acid (LA) in plasma CPG of their mothers. Linoleic acid is significantly higher in plasma CPG of Vietnam women. We conclude that high levels of LA in the diet might compromise selectively the transference of DHA from mother to foetus.
b) A transient visual deficit of unknown causes is observed in breast-fed babies born from refugee Karen women. Breast milk from Karen women was collected. The deficit is not related to insufficient provision of n-3 fatty acids during the postnatal period.
c) We evaluated the status of AA and DHA in women between pregnancies and women with a previous low birth weight baby. Women from a deprived area of London and previous low birth weight baby were classified according to adequate or inadequate diets. Post pregnancy women with inadequate diets require at least 300 mg DHA/day to reach normal range CPG levels for non-pregnant women. This study emphasizes the need to restore nutrient losses after pregnancy, especially in communities where the incidence of low birth weight is high.
d) Vascular function was analyzed in mesenteric rat arteries using a myograph. After incubation with AA, EPA or DHA a concentration-response curve was constructed to acetylcholine (ACh), nitric oxide mimetic (spermine NONOate), noradrenaline (NA) and a thromboxane mimetic (U46619) versus each FA. AA potentiates the vasodilatatory response to acetylcholine. This has beneficial implications in response to ischemia or injury, in which there is an extra cellular release of AA.
e) Effect of AA in a patient with a haemorrhagic stroke. After a year of treatment, despite his age, a large hemorrhagic area there was no physical disability or mental impairment. This case broadens the field to a different therapeutic approach using nutritional intervention.
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