Intake of marine fat, rich in (n-3)-polyunsaturated fatty acids, may increase birthweight by prolonging gestation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Intake of marine fat, rich in (n-3)-polyunsaturated fatty acids, may increase birthweight by prolonging gestation

AU - Olsen, S.F.

AU - Hansen, Harald S.

AU - Sørensen, T.I.

AU - Jensen, B.

AU - Secher, N.J.

AU - Sommer, S.

AU - Knudsen, L.B.

PY - 1986/1/1

Y1 - 1986/1/1

N2 - Birthweights in the Faroe Islands are among the highest in the world. Compared with Denmark, the average birthweight of liveborn singleton infants of primiparous mothers in 194 g higher, and a substantial part of this difference seems to be attributable to longer gestation. Prostaglandins play an important part in the timing of parturition in human beings. Dietary (n-3)-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in high amounts influence endogenous prostaglandin metabolism. Owing to the large consumption of marine fat, the average intake of (n-3)-PUFA in the Faroes by far exceeds that in Denmark. The hypothesis proposed is that dietary (n-3)-PUFA in high amounts prolong gestation in human beings by interfering with uterine production of prostaglandins, possibly by inhibiting the production of dienoic prostaglandins, primarily PGF(2a) and PGE, which are mediators of uterine contractions and cervical ripening.

AB - Birthweights in the Faroe Islands are among the highest in the world. Compared with Denmark, the average birthweight of liveborn singleton infants of primiparous mothers in 194 g higher, and a substantial part of this difference seems to be attributable to longer gestation. Prostaglandins play an important part in the timing of parturition in human beings. Dietary (n-3)-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in high amounts influence endogenous prostaglandin metabolism. Owing to the large consumption of marine fat, the average intake of (n-3)-PUFA in the Faroes by far exceeds that in Denmark. The hypothesis proposed is that dietary (n-3)-PUFA in high amounts prolong gestation in human beings by interfering with uterine production of prostaglandins, possibly by inhibiting the production of dienoic prostaglandins, primarily PGF(2a) and PGE, which are mediators of uterine contractions and cervical ripening.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0022509024&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:0022509024

SN - 0140-6736

VL - 2

SP - 367

EP - 369

JO - Lancet

JF - Lancet

IS - 8503

ER -