Fatty acids and risk of preterm delivery

Increased blood levels of free fatty acids, a key energy source for the body, may help identify pregnant women who are at a risk for preterm delivery. To examine the association between maternal plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) levels and the risk of preterm delivery, researchers from America measured the fasting plasma FFAs of 523 healthy pregnant women during their third trimester of pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia were excluded from the study. It was found that women who had moderately elevated plasma FFAs at 30 weeks of gestation were three times more likely to deliver prematurely than those with lower levels of plasma FFAs. The associations persisted in women who had spontaneous preterm delivery. This effect was independent of pre-pregnant obesity and several other known risk factors for preterm delivery, including cigarette smoking, ethnicity, and prior preterm delivery. The above findings suggest a definite association between elevated fasting plasma FFAs and increased risk of preterm delivery.

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