ABSTRACT
During pregnancy, maternal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) are preferentially transferred by the placenta to meet the requirements of the developing fetus. These LCPUFAs are essentially required by the trophoblast cells right from early gestation for several physiological processes involved in optimum placental growth and activity. They are structural constituents of the cell membrane, stimulate angiogenesis, and are metabolized into various eicosanoids, which modulate inammation in the placenta. LCPUFAs and their metabolites also act as ligands for transcription factors like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, which regulate the expression of various physiologically important genes. Several pregnancy complications like preeclampsia are associated with increased placental inammation and oxidative stress, and omega-3 LCPUFAs are known to reduce excess inammation and oxidative damage in the trophoblast cells. This chapter describes the multiple roles of maternal LCPUFAs in placental development and function, reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
