孕妇、乳母二十二碳六烯酸摄入水平对婴儿早期运动发育和视功能的影响

【目的】　追踪观察孕妇、乳母膳食不同二十二碳六烯酸 (DHA)摄入水平对婴儿早期运动发育和视功能的影响。　【方法】　选取孕 2 4周前妇女 14 6名 ,在孕 ( 2 2± 2 )周、孕 ( 3 8± 2 )周、产后 3月± 2周进行膳食调查。再随机抽取其中 48名母乳喂养婴儿于 2、3个月龄时用中国儿童发展中心 (CDCC)制定的 0～ 3岁婴幼儿智能发育量表进行评价 ,得出智力和运动发育指数 (MDI和PDI) ,婴儿 3个月时测双眼视网膜电图 (electroretinograph ,ERG)。按 3次平均膳食DHA摄入量将孕妇、乳母分成三组 :A组DHA <80mg/d ,14例 ;B组为DHA平均摄入量 80～ 15 9mg/d组 ,2 2例 ;C组为DHA≥ 160mg/d组 ,12例。 　【结果】　孕妇、乳母日均DHA摄入量为 ( 10 3 .17± 5 1.43 )mg/d。C组婴儿PDI在 2、3月龄时均显著高于A组 (P <0 .0 5 )。A组婴儿视网膜电图多项指标显著低于其它两组 (P <0 .0 5 )。　【结论】　孕妇、乳母摄入DHA≥ 160mg/d时可促进其母乳喂养的婴儿早期运动发育和视网膜发育     

母体二十二碳六烯酸摄入水平与婴儿智能发育的关系

目的:探讨母体二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)摄入水平与婴儿智能发育的关系。方法:将孕妇分为A组(DHA平均摄入量<80mg/d)、B组(DHA平均摄入量80～159mg/d)、C组(DHA平均摄入量≥160mg/d)各20例,用毛细管气相色谱法测定3组孕妇于妊娠(20±2)周、(32±2)周、生后4周及足月时的静脉血及其新生儿脐血血清的DHA水平,对其婴儿于出生后3～4个月采用中国儿童发展中心(CDCC)制定的0～3岁婴幼儿智能发育量表进行评价,得出精神和运动发育指数(MDI和PDI)。结果:C组血清DHA含量高于B、A组,差异非常显著(P<0.01),C组MDI、PDI显著高于B、A组(P<0.01)。结论:母体二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)的摄入水平与婴儿智能发育有密切关系。     

不同孕期钙干预对钙及微量元素代谢的影响

目的:探讨不同孕期钙干预对钙及微量元素代谢的影响。方法:以42名年龄在21～28岁、第一胎妊娠16～18w孕妇为对象,将其分为孕中期补钙(Ⅰ)、孕中期钙联合干预(Ⅱ)、孕晚期补钙(Ⅲ)三组。Ⅰ～Ⅱ组于20±2w、Ⅲ组于32±2w开始进行钙干预(600mg/d)直至产后1w,Ⅱ组同时补充高钙奶粉40～60g/d,并于24±2w、36±2w、分娩时、产后1w分别抽取母血或脐血测定血清中Ca、P、Zn、Fe、Cu含量。另取16名未补钙剂的第一胎孕妇作对照。结果:通过膳食指导保证各组热能与营养素摄入相近。经钙干预后整个孕期与产后血清钙、磷代谢相对稳定。钙补充以孕末期为佳,产后Ⅲ组血钙高于对照组。过量钙摄入可能干扰其他微量元素、尤其是锌的代谢。结论:孕妇补钙以孕晚期为宜,避免过量钙摄入,并注意适当调整膳食结构,增加富钙食品与VD的摄入。     

乳母膳食与乳汁中矿物质含量研究

目的探讨膳食矿物质摄入水平及对乳汁矿物质含量的影响。方法选择婴儿月龄在30天~50天母乳喂养的健康乳母为调查对象,共56人,年龄23~35岁。于产后30天由专人进行入户调查。采用24小时回顾法,记录调查对象每餐摄入食物的种类和数量,并同时采集乳汁,用火焰原子吸收光度法测其钙、铁、锌、镁、铜、锰的含量。结果济南市乳母膳食中禽蛋摄入较高149g,豆类较低14g。与营养素推荐摄入量(RNI)比较,膳食能量摄入偏低(77.5%)。膳食矿物质铜、铁、锰、镁的摄入量均达到RNI的90%,钙摄入量较低,仅为RNI的62.5%。乳汁中钙、铁、锰、镁、铜、锌含量分别为0.39g/L、1.35mg/L、17.5μg/L、36mg/L、0.33mg/L、2.18mg/L。膳食矿物质摄入量与乳汁中矿物质含量的相关性分析结果显示,膳食钙、锌、锰的摄入量与乳汁中含量显著相关(P<0.01)。结论济南市乳母膳食组成中禽蛋摄入较高,豆类摄入偏低,膳食钙、维生素B1摄入不足。     

2017年成都市孕早中期妇女铁补充剂摄入量对妊娠期糖尿病的影响

目的探讨成都地区孕早中期妇女铁补充剂摄入量对妊娠期糖尿病(gestational diabetes mellitus,GDM)的影响。方法采用前瞻性研究,于2017年2-4月通过立意抽样方法选取成都市某妇幼保健机构产前门诊807名孕早期妇女为研究对象。通过问卷调查于孕早期收集孕妇基本信息,于孕早、中期收集孕妇铁补充剂摄入剂量及频率,计算铁补充剂平均日摄入量,采用连续3天24小时膳食回顾法收集孕妇孕早、中期食物摄入量。根据WHO推荐孕期补铁60 mg/d为分界点,<60 mg/d为低水平组,≥60 mg/d为高水平组。于孕24~28周进行口服葡萄糖糖耐量试验,根据《中国妊娠合并糖尿病诊治指南(2014)》诊断GDM。采用多因素非条件Logistic回归方法分析孕早、中期妇女铁补充剂平均摄入量和摄入水平对GDM的影响。结果最终纳入有效样本739例,年龄(28.22±3.75)岁。孕早、中期铁补充剂使用率分别为5.0%和67.9%,铁补充剂摄入量≥60 mg/d比例分别为3.8%和47.1%。调整年龄、孕次、产次、孕前体质指数、膳食铁摄入量、膳食能量摄入量等混杂因素后,孕中期铁补充剂平均摄入量与GDM发生风险呈正相关(OR=1.059,95%CI 1.016~1.104);孕中期铁补充剂摄入高水平组(≥60 mg/d)GDM发生风险是孕中期铁补充剂摄入低水平组(<60 mg/d)的1.406倍(95%CI 1.019~1.939)。未发现孕早期铁补充剂摄入量与GDM发生有关。结论孕期铁补充剂使用可能会增加GDM发生风险,孕妇铁补充剂适宜摄入量值得探讨。     

孕妇乳母锌摄入量对新生儿生长发育的影响

对全国八个地区3916名孕妇、乳母及青年妇女进行了膳食锌营养状况评价,比较了各地区的差别,并就锌缺乏对胎、婴儿所产生的影响进行了研究。结果表明:3916名孕妇、乳母及青年妇女锌摄入量均值为6.5±2.3～9.0±3.6mg/d,被调查者中仅有7.2％人达到我国RDA的三分之二以上。膳食锌主要来源于谷类食物(77％左右),且地区间差别显著。经单相关和逐步回归分析,母亲锌摄入量与胎儿的生长发育、新生儿出生体重有着密切关系、妊娠过程中母体膳食锌摄入量对胎儿生长发育有直接的影响。     

广州地区孕中晚期、哺乳期妇女膳食调查分析

目的了解广州市孕妇、乳母营养素摄入情况。方法选取孕妇146名,在孕22±2周、孕38±2周、产后12±2周分3次进行3天24小时回顾法膳食调查。结果孕中、晚期、哺乳期妇女食物结构比较合理,但与《中国居民膳食指南》相比,乳制品、豆类摄取均较低,前者仅占3.3%、3.8%和2.4%,后者占0.9%、0.8%和1.1%。营养素分析结果:3期钙摄入均不足,仅达到AI的76.8%、68.1%和65.5%。锌摄入分别为RNI的89.0%、81.9%和80.4%,哺乳期能量占RNI的95.1%,其余各期能量各营养素均达到AI或RNI标准。结论广州市孕妇、乳母应适当调整膳食结构,增加海产品或含锌多的硬果类食物摄入,以保证锌的摄入。增加奶类、豆类的摄入量,并适当补充钙制剂,保证钙的摄入充足。     

膳食胆固醇摄入对妊娠期糖尿病的影响

目的 研究妊娠期妇女孕前1年、孕早期、孕中期膳食胆固醇摄入对妊娠期糖尿病的影响。方法 收集2012年3月至2016年9月在山西医科大学第一医院产科住院分娩孕妇的一般人口学特征、妊娠期糖尿病诊断结果及膳食胆固醇摄入情况,根据对照组孕妇不同时期胆固醇摄入的P₂₅、P₅₀、P₇₅将其分为4组。采用非条件logistic回归分析孕前1年、孕早期、孕中期膳食胆固醇摄入量与妊娠期糖尿病的关系,及不同年龄段孕妇膳食胆固醇摄入对妊娠期糖尿病发生的影响。结果 共纳入研究对象9 005人,其中妊娠期糖尿病1 388例。多因素分析结果显示,孕前1年胆固醇摄入量≥ 76.50 mg/d且孕中期摄入量为≥ 46.75 mg/d的孕妇患GDM的风险增加。按年龄分层后,年龄<35岁孕妇的孕前1年和孕中期胆固醇摄入量≥ 76.50 mg/d是妊娠期糖尿病的危险因素（分别为OR=1.336,95%CI：1.083~1.647;OR=1.341,95%CI：1.087~1.654）,孕妇年龄≥ 35岁组未发现膳食胆固醇摄入与妊娠期糖尿病发生有关。结论 妊娠期妇女孕前1年及孕中期膳食胆固醇摄入高均会增加妊娠期糖尿病的发生风险。     

东莞市孕中期妇女膳食营养状况与妊娠结局的追踪研究

目的以东莞市孕中期妇女为对象,研究其膳食营养状况与妊娠结局之关联。方法采用连续3天24小时膳食回顾法,对2014年纳入东莞市某医院队列研究的孕中期妇女膳食进行调查,与膳食营养素参考摄入量和膳食指南推荐食物摄入量进行比较,并分析比较不同妊娠结局孕妇营养状况是否存在差异。结果共纳入890名孕中期妇女,年龄(26.21±3.15)岁,孕前BMI 19.83±2.45。日均能量摄入为2042 kcal,蛋白质摄入量74.0 g,碳水化合物和脂肪供能比分别为55.20%和30.63%,基本符合推荐摄入量;而膳食纤维、钙、视黄醇当量、维生素B1和维生素B2摄入量分别为12.0 g/d、558.7 g/d,236.7μgRE/d、1.0 mg/d、1.1 mg/d,均低于推荐摄入量;磷、锌和铜日均摄入量分别为1114.8 mg、12.5 mg和2.2 mg,超过推荐摄入量。蔬菜和水果日均摄入量分别为302.3 g和412.3 g,蔬菜在推荐摄入量的下限,水果比推荐摄入上限略高;鱼禽蛋肉日均摄入量合计为254.7 g/d,达到推荐摄入量;而奶及奶制品日均摄入量仅为156.6 g,低于推荐摄入量。贫血组孕妇蛋白质、脂肪、维生素B_1、维生素B_2和钙摄入量低于非贫血组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);新生儿不同出生体重、妊高症与非妊高症组间营养素摄入量比较未发现显著差异。结论东莞市孕中期妇女大部分营养素和食物的摄入量达到了推荐摄入量,但维生素B_1、维生素B_2、膳食纤维、钙、铁和视黄醇当量、蔬菜、奶制品等仍存在摄入不足,贫血孕妇有不同程度蛋白质、脂肪、维生素B_1、维生素B_2和钙的摄入量不足。     

内蒙古中西部地区348例乳母膳食营养调查

正哺乳期是乳母自身恢复的重要时期~([1]),乳母的膳食营养状况不仅关系到乳母自身健康,而且影响着母乳的分泌和质量,与婴儿的生长发育有着密切关系[2]。所以关注乳母的膳食均衡性至关重要,本研究旨在通过调查乳母的膳食摄入情况,分析本地区乳母营养素摄入量的分布、探索各种营养素的摄入量对产后体质量恢复的影响。     

Dietary selenium intake and selenium concentrations of plasma, erythrocytes, and breast milk in pregnant and postpartum lactating and nonlactating women

The selenium status of a group of 23 lactating and 13 nonlactating women was assessed from 37-wk gestation through 6-mo postpartum. The mean overall dietary Se intake of both groups of women was 80 +/- 37 micrograms/d. Plasma and erythrocyte Se levels were lower in the lactating than in the nonlactating mothers both before and after parturition. Breast-milk Se concentrations fell from 20 micrograms/L (0.25 mumol/L) at 1-mo postpartum to 15 micrograms/L (0.19 mumol/L) at 3- and 6-mo postpartum. A weak (r = 0.38) but statistically significant (p less than 0.025) relationship was observed between maternal plasma Se level and breast-milk Se concentration. The dietary Se intake of these lactating North American women appears sufficient to maintain satisfactory Se nutriture in their breast-fed infants during the first 6 mo of lactation.     

Comparison of the peripartum and postpartum phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles of lactating and nonlactating women

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is associated with increased absolute amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) in plasma phospholipids. Expressed as a proportion of total fatty acids, DHA declines slightly in late pregnancy but little information is available on the normalization of DHA postpartum, which may be different in lactating and nonlactating women. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate maternal plasma and erythrocyte long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (long-chain polyenes; LCPs) postpartum, particularly DHA, in relation to lactation and dietary LCP intake. DESIGN: Healthy pregnant women who intended to breast-feed or exclusively bottle-feed their infants were studied at 36-37 wk of pregnancy. Blood samples were collected at entry, after parturition on days 2 and 5, and 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 wk postpartum. Fatty acid profiles were analyzed in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids. Dietary intakes were assessed 4 and 32 wk postpartum with a validated food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: After delivery, the percentages of plasma linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic acids increased over time, whereas the percentage of docosapentaenoic acid decreased; the patterns of change did not differ significantly between the lactating and nonlactating groups. The percentage of DHA in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acids declined significantly in the 2 groups, more so in the lactating women, and was enhanced when the lactation period was extended. Despite the apparent higher dietary intake of essential fatty acids in the lactating group at week 4, it was not significantly different from that of the nonlactating group. CONCLUSION: Normalization of maternal plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid n-3 LCPs differs significantly between lactating and nonlactating women postpartum but that of n-6 LCPs does not.     

Early docosahexaenoic acid supplementation of mothers during lactation leads to high plasma concentrations in very preterm infants

Very preterm infants are vulnerable to deficiency in DHA. In a longitudinal study, 10 mothers who delivered ≤29 wk gestation and planned to breast-feed received DHA (1200 mg/d) until 36 wk after conception. The plasma DHA status was assessed in their 12 infants (including 2 pairs of twins) from birth to d 49. Fatty acid profiles were measured weekly in breast milk, and in plasma of mothers and infants at baseline and at d15 and 49. Plasma and breast milk fatty acid concentrations in the DHA-supplemented group at d 49 were compared with a reference group of very preterm infants (n = 24, including triplets) whose mothers (n = 22) did not receive DHA during lactation. The infants' plasma DHA concentration tended to be greater in the DHA group than in the reference group (P = 0.10) and was greater when expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids (P = 0.009). At d 49, maternal milk DHA in the DHA group (1.92 ± 1.10 mmol/L) was ~12 times higher than in the reference group (0.15 ± 0.27 mmol/L) (P < 0.001). The amount of DHA provided to the infants increased from wk 1 through wk 7 in the DHA group (P < 0.001). Although enteral intake at wk 7 did not differ between the DHA group [119 ± 51 mL/(kg·d)] and the reference group [113 ± 66 mL/(kg·d)], DHA group infants received 55 ± 38 mg/(kg·d) of DHA, and the reference group infants received 7 ± 11 mg/(kg·d) (P < 0.001). Early supplementation with DHA to lactating mothers with low dietary DHA intake successfully increased the plasma DHA status in very preterm infants.     

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation from mid-pregnancy to parturition influenced breast milk fatty acid concentrations at 1 month postpartum in Mexican women

(n-3) PUFA, including DHA, are essential for neural development and accumulate extensively in the fetal and infant brain. (n-3) PUFA concentrations in breast milk, which are largely dependent on maternal diet and tissue stores, are correlated with infant PUFA status. We investigated the effect of prenatal DHA supplementation on PUFA concentrations in breast milk at 1 mo postpartum. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial conducted in Mexico, pregnant women were supplemented daily with 400 mg DHA or placebo from 18-22 wk gestation to parturition. Fatty acid concentrations in breast milk obtained from 174 women at 1 mo postpartum were determined using GLC and were expressed as % by weight of total detected fatty acids. Breast milk DHA concentrations in the DHA and placebo groups were (mean ± SD) 0.20 ± 0.06 and 0.17 ± 0.07 (P < 0.01), respectively, and those of α-linolenic acid (ALA) were 1.38 ± 0.47 and 1.24 ± 0.46 (P = 0.01), respectively. Concentrations of EPA and arachidonic acid did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). Maternal plasma DHA concentrations at 1 mo postpartum correlated positively with breast milk DHA at 1 mo postpartum in both the placebo and DHA groups (r = 0.4; P < 0.01 for both treatment groups). Prenatal DHA supplementation from 18-22 wk gestation to parturition increased concentrations of DHA and ALA in breast milk at 1 mo postpartum, providing a mechanism through which breast-fed infants could benefit.     

Dietary magnesium intake and the concentration of magnesium in plasma and erythrocytes of postpartum women.

Dietary magnesium intakes and concentrations of magnesium in plasma and erythrocytes were determined in 23 lactating and 13 nonlactating healthy pregnant women from 37 wk of gestation through 6 mo postpartum. Food composites, collected for 3 days, were analyzed for magnesium, and energy intake was calculated from 3-day dietary records. The lactating women consumed significantly greater (P less than .05) amounts of magnesium and energy than the nonlactating women. Mean postpartum intake of magnesium was 55% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for lactating women and 48% of the RDA for nonlactating women. Neither lactation nor length of lactation significantly affected plasma magnesium concentration or erythrocyte magnesium concentration. Dietary magnesium intake was not significantly correlated with the level of magnesium in either the plasma or erythrocytes.     

Maternal plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy with and without gestational diabetes mellitus: relations with maternal factors.

BACKGROUND: The fatty acids arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) are essential for fetal growth and development, but their metabolism may be altered in insulin resistance. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to determine maternal plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in pregnant women receiving dietary therapy for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to identify maternal factors associated with plasma phospholipid AA and DHA concentrations in the third trimester. DESIGN: Fasting plasma phospholipid fatty acids were determined in women with GDM (n = 15) receiving dietary therapy only and in healthy, pregnant women without GDM (control group, n = 15) at 27-30, 33-35, and 36-39 wk gestation. RESULTS: Maternal plasma phospholipid (as % by wt of total fatty acids and mg/L) linoleic acid (18:2n-6), AA, and 22:5n-6 concentrations did not differ significantly between women with GDM and control subjects. The other n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (% by wt) were lower in GDM subjects than in control subjects. Plasma phospholipid (expressed as % by wt and mg/L) linolenic acid (18:3n-3) and summed precursors of DHA were lower and DHA (% by wt and mg/L), adjusted for dietary DHA intake, was 13% higher in GDM subjects than in control subjects. Maternal blood hemoglobin A1C was inversely related to plasma phospholipid AA (% by wt) (r = -0.56, P = 0.03) in control subjects and positively associated with plasma phospholipid AA (% by wt) in women with GDM (r = 0.76, P = 0.001). Pregravid body mass index was negatively associated with plasma phospholipid DHA (% by wt) in control subjects (r = -0.55, P = 0.04) and in women with GDM with a body mass index (in kg/m2) <30 (r = -0.76, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report documenting alterations in maternal plasma phospholipid PUFAs in pregnant women receiving dietary therapy for GDM. In pregnant woman, both with and without GDM, maternal glycemic control and pregravid BMI appear to be significant predictors of plasma phospholipid AA and DHA, respectively, during the third trimester. Additionally, dietary DHA significantly affects phospholipid DHA concentrations.     

Effect of long-term fish oil supplementation on vitamin E status and lipid peroxidation in women.

Fifteen young (22-35 y) and 10 older (51-71 y) women received six capsules of fish oil (Pro-Mega)/d, providing a total of 1,680 mg eicosapentaenoic (EPA), 720 mg docosahexaenoic (DHA), 600 mg other fatty acids, and 6 IU vitamin E. Blood was collected before and after 1, 2 and 3 mo of supplementation. Compliance was confirmed by the significant increase in plasma EPA and DHA in all women. Older women had a significantly higher increase in EPA and DHA than did young women (10-fold increases in EPA and 2.5-fold increases in DHA vs. 8-fold in EPA and 2-fold in DHA for older and young women, respectively). The decrease in the arachidonic acid:EPA ratio was more dramatic in the older women. Plasma total triglycerides (TG) decreased significantly, and the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was significantly (P less than 0.01) increased. Plasma vitamin E levels did not change significantly after supplementation; however, after 3 mo of supplementation by young women, plasma vitamin E was significantly lower than after 1 mo. The vitamin E: TG ratio was significantly increased and vitamin E:(EPA + DHA) significantly decreased. All women showed a significant increase in plasma lipid peroxide through mo 2 of supplementation. After 2 mo, older women had significantly higher lipid peroxide levels than young women. The lipid peroxide:TG ratio, which declined by mo 3, was still significantly higher than baseline. These data indicate that although long-term fish oil supplementation may be beneficial in reducing plasma total TG, susceptibility of plasma lipids to free radical attack is potentiated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Essential and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status and fatty acid composition of breast milk of lactating adolescents

The aims of the present study were to evaluate essential fatty acids (EFA) and long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) status in lactating adolescents and its association with breast milk composition. Healthy nursing adolescents from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (n 30; 14-19 years; 30-120 d postpartum), exclusively or predominantly breast-feeding, participated in this study. Breast milk and blood samples were collected after overnight fasting. Fatty acid composition of breast milk, erythrocyte membrane (EM) and plasma NEFA were determined by GC. Indices of fatty acid status (mean melting point (MMP); EFA status index; DHA status indices, 22 : 5n-6:22 : 4n-6 and 22 : 6n-3:22 : 5n-6 ratios) were calculated from EM fatty acid composition. Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was low when compared with current recommendations for lactating women. MMP was associated with indices of DHA status, some individual fatty acids in EM and years post-menarche and weeks postpartum, suggesting the use of erythrocyte MMP as a possible comprehensive biochemical marker of LCPUFA status in this physiological condition. The DHA status of lactating adolescents and their milk DHA concentrations were similar to the values of Brazilian lactating adults, but lower compared with the values of lactating adults from other countries. Therefore, these lactating adolescents were apparently not disadvantaged, as compared with the Brazilian adults, when EM and breast milk fatty acid composition were considered. In general, PUFA in milk from adolescents presented few associations with their concentrations in plasma NEFA and with maternal status. However, milk DHA was associated with maternal LCPUFA and DHA states.     

Genetic variants of the FADS1 FADS2 gene cluster are associated with altered (n-6) and (n-3) essential fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids in women during pregnancy and in breast milk during lactation

The enzymes encoded by fatty acid desaturase (FADS) 1 and FADS2 are rate-limiting enzymes in the desaturation of linoleic acid [LA; 18:2(n-6)] to arachidonic acid [ARA; 20:4(n-6)], and alpha-linolenic acid [ALA; 18:3(n-3)] to eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5(n-3)] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA; 22:6(n-3)]. ARA, EPA, and DHA play central roles in infant growth, neural development, and immune function. The maternal ARA, EPA, and DHA status in gestation influences maternal-to-infant transfer and breast milk provides fatty acids for infants after birth. We determined if single nucleotide polymorphisms in FADS1 and FADS2 influence plasma phospholipid and erythrocyte ethanolamine phosphoglyceride (EPG) (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acids of women in pregnancy or their breast milk during lactation. We genotyped rs174553, rs99780, rs174575, and rs174583 in the FADS1 FADS2 gene cluster and analyzed plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids and dietary intake for 69 pregnant women and breast milk for a subset of 54 women exclusively breast-feeding at 1 mo postpartum. Minor allele homozygotes of rs174553(GG), rs99780(TT), and rs174583(TT) had lower ARA but higher LA in plasma phospholipids and erythrocyte EPG and decreased (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acid product:precursor ratios at 16 and 36 wk of gestation. Breast milk fatty acids were influenced by genotype, with significantly lower 14:0, ARA, and EPA but higher 20:2(n-6) in the minor allele homozygotes of rs174553(GG), rs99780(TT), and rs174583(TT) and lower ARA, EPA, 22:5(n-3), and DHA in the minor allele homozygotes G/G of rs174575. We showed that genetic variants of FADS1 and FADS2 influence blood lipid and breast milk essential fatty acids in pregnancy and lactation.