Researchers at the University of Southampton have discovered mothers with higher levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs, during pregnancy tend to have children who have more fat in their bodies.

This type of fatty acid in foods is found mainly in nuts and cooking oils. 

The study assessed the muscle mass and fat of 293 boys and girls at four years of age and again at six years.  (Blood samples were collected from their mothers during pregnancy.)  The results concluded that the mothers who had higher levels of N-6 PUFAs during their pregnancies had children with greater fat mass.

One of the researchers stated that although obesity is a rising problem in England, very few studies have been conducted to tie together a mother’s fatty acid levels during pregnancy and the subsequent weight of their young children. 

As noted by the research team’s leaders, the results suggest that altering the maternal diet to reduce n-6 PUFAs intake may have a very beneficial effect on the developing child’s body composition. 

To a lesser degree, the study also showed that a mother’s levels of n-3 PUFAs (more commonly known as omega 3 and typically found in fish oil) resulted in less fat in the offspring and more muscle and bone.

The conclusions indicate that a supplementation strategy during pregnancy may be beneficial. While previous trials have attempted to use n-3 supplementation in order to reduce fat mass in newborns, this study suggests that particular approach may be more successful if combined with an n-6 dietary reduction.  One of the study’s co-leaders commented that “n-6 and n-3 PUFAs seem to act in opposite directions on fat mass.”

While this study was part of a larger program of research in an attempt to understand how factors such as lifestyle and diet during pregnancy and in early childhood affect a child’s bone development and body composition, the findings are beneficial. 

The researchers’ work could feasibly lead to the design of interventions whose intent is to optimize body composition in childhood and later adulthood.

This, say the researchers, could improve the health of future generations.

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