Table 2. Distribution of plasma phospholipid n-3 PUFA (%), n-6 PUFA (%), and PUFA ratios among GDM cases and non-GDM controlsa.
| Gestational weeks 10–14 | Gestational weeks 15–26 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Controls (n = 214) | GDM (n = 107) | Pb | Controls (n = 214) | GDM (n = 107) | Pb | |
| n-3 PUFAs, % of total fatty acids | ||||||
| 18:3n-3 (ALA) | 0.20 (0.16, 0.26) | 0.21 (0.17, 0.26) | 0.62 | 0.24 (0.20, 0.29) | 0.25 (0.19, 0.28) | 0.73 |
| 20:5n-3 (EPA) | 0.29 (0.21, 0.4) | 0.29 (0.19, 0.43) | 0.74 | 0.16 (0.14, 0.21) | 0.15 (0.12, 0.19) | 0.047 |
| 22:5n-3 (DPA) | 0.68 (0.55, 0.81) | 0.65 (0.54, 0.80) | 0.25 | 0.62 (0.51, 0.76) | 0.58 (0.46, 0.7) | 0.031 |
| 22:6n-3 (DHA) | 4.16 (3.37, 5.13) | 3.92 (3.05, 4.73) | 0.049 | 3.99 (3.23, 5.00) | 3.71 (2.97, 4.91) | 0.085 |
| Total n-3 PUFAs | 5.40 (4.58, 6.41) | 5.11 (4.14, 6.12) | 0.047 | 5.10 (4.17, 6.21) | 4.70 (3.87, 5.99) | 0.047 |
| n-6 PUFAs, % of total fatty acids | ||||||
| 18:2n-6 (LA) | 20.59 (18.85, 22.54) | 20.50 (18.74, 22.06) | 0.510 | 21.59 (19.91, 23.33) | 21.57 (19.78, 23.29) | 0.990 |
| 18:3n-6 (GLA) | 0.07 (0.06, 0.09) | 0.08 (0.06, 0.11) | 0.010 | 0.07 (0.05, 0.09) | 0.07 (0.06, 0.09) | 0.890 |
| 20:2n-6 (EDA) | 0.50 (0.44, 0.57) | 0.47 (0.43, 0.56) | 0.110 | 0.52 (0.45, 0.59) | 0.49 (0.43, 0.58) | 0.027 |
| 20:3n-6 (DGLA) | 3.41 (2.83, 4.01) | 3.66 (3.20, 4.53) | <0.0013 | 3.35 (2.88, 3.91) | 3.75 (3.30, 4.32) | <0.0011 |
| 20:4n-6 (AA) | 11.34 (9.91, 12.54) | 10.88 (9.42, 12.63) | 0.330 | 10.42 (8.90, 11.77) | 10.42 (8.70, 12.19) | 0.760 |
| 22:4n-6 (DTA) | 0.49 (0.36, 0.61) | 0.47 (0.32, 0.61) | 0.440 | 0.27 (0.22, 0.35) | 0.24 (0.20, 0.29) | 0.001 |
| 22:5n-6 (n6-DPA) | 0.53 (0.37, 0.66) | 0.51 (0.42, 0.65) | 0.940 | 0.50 (0.35, 0.64) | 0.52 (0.39, 0.65) | 0.340 |
| Total n-6 PUFAs | 37.29 (35.55, 38.71) | 37.46 (35.32, 38.67) | 0.800 | 37.21 (35.22, 38.57) | 37.34 (35.78, 39.05) | 0.170 |
| PUFA ratios | ||||||
| Δ6-desaturase, 18:3n-6/18:2n-6 | 0.003 (0.003, 0.005) | 0.004 (0.003, 0.006) | 0.014 | 0.003 (0.002, 0.005) | 0.003 (0.002, 0.004) | 0.980 |
| Δ5-desaturase, 20:4n-6/20:3n-6 | 3.43 (2.61, 4.12) | 2.87 (2.30, 3.60) | 0.001 | 2.94 (2.44, 3.82) | 2.71 (2.20, 3.36) | 0.021 |
| DGLA/LA, 20:3n-6/18:2n-6 | 0.17 (0.13, 0.20) | 0.19 (0.16, 0.23) | <0.001 | 0.15 (0.13, 0.19) | 0.18 (0.14, 0.21) | 0.001 |
aData are presented as median (25th and 75th percentile).
bP values for differences between case and control participants were obtained by linear mixed models with associated likelihood ratio tests, accounting for matched case–control pairs (likelihood ratio tests).
Abbreviations: AA, arachidonic acid; ALA, alpha-linolenic acid; DGLA, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; DPA, docosapentaenoic acid; DTA, docosatetraenoic acid; EDA, eicosadienoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; GLA, gamma-linolenic acid; LA, linoleic acid; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid