engleski

Composition of free fatty acids in the placenta of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes

INTRODUCTION Diabetes-induced changes and poorly regulated glycemia in diabetic pregnant women are reflected on placental tissue and metabolism, and consequently induce a series of complications in both the embryo and later fetus, and the pregnant woman. For normal growth and development of the fetal central nervous system of particular importance is the availability and supplementation of essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The purpose of this study was to determine how changes in carbohydrate metabolism can affect the lipid content of the placenta in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant women (38 with DM 1, and 34 healthy) were recruited for the study at the Reference Center for Diabetes in Pregnancy, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb. All pregnancies were finished by caesarean section at the expected term of birth. Samples were collected from placental tissue, homogenized and total lipids were extracted by solvent mixtures. Free fatty acids were separated by thin layer chromatography, trans-esterified to methyl esters and analyzed by gas chromatography. RESULTS The amounts of free fatty acids were significantly reduced in placental tissue of the pregnant women with DM1 than in the control group. In DM1 group the ratio of lauric acid (C12:0) was significantly lower and the ratios of miristoleic (14:1), palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) fatty acids were significantly higher than in the control group. CONCLUSION Decreased amounts of free fatty acids in the placenta of pregnant women with DM1 might indicate an increased lipolytic activity. Well regulated DM1 results with stable metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, and with the appropriate fatty acid composition.

free fatty acids; pregnancy; type 1 diabetes; placenta

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