The Importance of Fatty Acids in Perinatal Life
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive and Developmental Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 2164
Special Issue Editor
Interests: fatty acids; perinatal life; human milk; pregnancy; type 1 diabetes mellitus; lipids; nutrition; paediatrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) play a key role in the maturation of the nervous system in perinatal life, i.e., during the third trimester and after birth, in the first years of life, with an adequate fetal fatty acid supply during pregnancy provided by the maternal stores and diet. The importance of LCPUFAs in fetal life is also supported by the presence of fatty acid transfer proteins in the placenta. After birth, the exclusive fatty acid source for newborns is breast milk or, in the absence of breastfeeding, infant formulas. Maternal LCPUFAs, mainly DHA, can be greatly influenced by diet, as high levels have been observed in those who regularly consume seafood or fish. The breast milk lipid and LCPUFA content is also influenced by several factors, such as the gestational age at delivery, course of lactation, time of sampling or nationality. An adequate fatty acid (mainly DHA) supply can, therefore, affect the maturation of the infant’s nervous system, visual acuity as well as the immune system, and can also reduce the prevalence of maternal postpartum depression. The role of major LCPUFAs in the early nervous system development has been extensively researched and the importance of DHA intake is evident during this period; however, other less-researched fatty acids, such as nervonic acid or trans fatty acids, may also affect perinatal growth and development.
This Special Issue will focus on the role of different fatty acids in the perinatal life period and their possible effect on a neonatal or infant, as well as the maternal health.
Dr. Eva Szabo
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- fatty acids
- arachidonic acid
- docosahexaenoic acid
- pregnancy
- delivery
- newborn
- infant
- diet
- nutrition
- breastfeeding
- human milk
- formula feeding
- complementary feeding
- fetal development
- visual acuity
- nervous system
- neonatal growth
