Prospective Study of Fatty Acid Profiles and Pregnancy Outcomes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective Study of Fatty Acid Profiles and Pregnancy Outcomes
IRAS ID
194336
Contact name
Mark Johnson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age and is associated with a high risk for neuro-developmental disorders and chronic diseases. It is the product of several factors, some of which include maternal pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes; others include poor nutrition and maternal infection. New results from a randomized controlled trial involving essential fatty acid (EFA) supplementation of 300 pregnant women, the majority of which were high-risk of pregnancy complications, indicate an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth with baseline elevated maternal monounsaturated fatty acids at recruitment, which may be mediated by EFA deficiency. The results of the trial shed light on the potential role of EFAs in pregnancy outcomes. The results call for the need for a larger low-risk cohort of pregnant women to confirm the results and to investigate a potential mechanism by which deficiency in certain fatty acids affects pregnancy outcomes. The proposed cohort study involves the recruitment of 1000 pregnant women booking at the antenatal clinic in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Blood and urine collections will coincide with the routine care i.e. at booking, 20 weeks, 28 weeks, 34 weeks and delivery. At delivery, placental samples and cord blood will be taken. Blood and urine will be stored and subsequent fatty acid content and immune markers will be analyzed and related to pregnancy outcomes. About 8% (n=80) of this population will give birth preterm for a variety of causes, their samples will be selected and compared to normal controls from the same cohort matched for maternal characteristics. We hypothesize that high monounsaturated fatty acids are associated with increased risk of preterm through inflammation translated in blood and urine.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0279
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion