Repercussões dos ácidos graxos polinsaturados em gestantes e recém-nascidos suplementados com ômega-3 e óleo de linhaça dourada

Abstract

ABSTRACT - Lipids are nutritious components with various functions ranging from energy storage to transporting fat-soluble vitamins and hormonal precursors. They can also be considered as functional elements due to the presence of certain groups in their chemical structure that differ in the size of the carbon chain of the molecule. From this definition, there exist polyunsaturated fatty acids that comprise of families of fatty acids with double bonds at carbons n- 9, n- 6 and n- 3, represented by oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids respectively. We highlight the importance of their study due to their direct action on the neurological and immune regulation, in the skin composition besides their relation with behavioral disorders and growth of the child. Thus, this study aimed to determine the serum levels of DHA and EPA in the blood of pregnant women and newborns whose mothers took capsules of omega - 3 (DHA + EPA) or golden flaxseed oil, as well as to verify their levels in human milk. The sample consisted of 15 pregnant women who were divided into 3 groups of equal size according to the reception of food supplements (EPA + DHA), flaxseed oil and a negative group that didn’t receive any compound. Quantification of the elements offered as well as their metabolites in the maternal blood, breast milk and in the infant blood samples, were performed. It was observed that the presence of the amount of fatty acid C22 : 6n3 ( DHA ) in the omega and flaxseed groups did not differ between the groups , as well as the levels of the fatty acid C20 : 5n3 ( EPA ) in the maternal blood . In relation to the blood of newborns, there was no increase for the group that received fatty acids in the form of C22 : 6n3 ( DHA ) . However the levels of the fatty acid C22 : 6n3 (DHA) in milk samples from the flaxseed group presented higher levels of this same compound analyzed in the control group and were similar to the values found in the omega group. Another relevant issue is the reduction of the fatty acid C20 : 5n3 ( EPA ) in breast milk , which contributes to a lower exacerbation of the immune response . It is plausible to affirm that the supplementation of the maternal diet, using sources of omega 3 such as flaxseed oil, can be a viable alternative, since it’s of low cost and of easy access, helping to ensure nutritional values close to the expected values.