ABSTRACT
The importance of placental function and dysfunction is manifest in a variety of adult chronic illnesses that are now felt to be a consequence of in utero insults. Preventative care and overall health begin in utero and require a healthy placenta. This realization has implications not only for an individual’s quality of life but also for societal approaches to public health. Placental nutrient transport potential involves multiple variables including placental size, architecture, blood flow, nutrient production and consumption, and transporters for glucose, lipids, and amino acids. Environmental insults, which reduce placental weight, such as nutritional conditions and glucocorticoid administration, can also have an effect on placental morphology. The consumption and production of nutrients by placental tissues impact the availability of nutrients for transport to the fetus. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are important not only for maternal health but also for fetal growth and central nervous system development.
