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Maternal n-3 Fatty Acids and Blood Pressure in Children

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Diet, Nutrition, and Fetal Programming

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is strong evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies that hypertensive-disorders can have their origins in early life, with proposed risk factors including altered fetal growth and aspects of maternal, fetal and infant nutrition. Experimental studies have demonstrated numerous mechanistic actions through which omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may improve vascular and cardiac health, and clinical trials of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake in adults demonstrate blood pressure lowering. Omega-3 fatty acids cross the placental barrier readily, and as such it has been proposed that maternal intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have similar haemodynamic effects in the offspring, and may program long term haemodynamic benefits. Such proposed improvements in haemodynamic profile may be more pronounced in children at higher risk of hypertensive-disorders due to other adverse early life risk factors or exposures. These hypotheses are supported by some observational and animal data, although high quality evidence from clinical trials is lacking.

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Abbreviations

ALA:

Alpha-linolenic acid

BP:

Blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

GA:

Gestational age

LCPUFA:

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

MAP:

Mean arterial pressure

n-3 PUFA:

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

n-6:

Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

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Funding Sources

MRS is supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Future Leader Fellowship (100419). HD is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award (SC0042).

Conflicts of Interest

MRS and MP receive research support from Swisse Wellness Pty Ltd. in the form of investigational product supplies. HD has no conflict of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Hasthi U. W. Dissanayake BSc, MPhil, Melinda Phang BSc, PhD & Michael R. Skilton BSc, PhD

Authors
  1. Hasthi U. W. Dissanayake BSc, MPhil
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  2. Melinda Phang BSc, PhD
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  3. Michael R. Skilton BSc, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael R. Skilton BSc, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, King's College, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Department of Nutrition, King's College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Dissanayake, H.U.W., Phang, M., Skilton, M.R. (2017). Maternal n-3 Fatty Acids and Blood Pressure in Children. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Diet, Nutrition, and Fetal Programming. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60289-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60289-9_21

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