DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 250-256

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid have important role in maternal and fetal development. Several studies have provided link between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status of mother with visual and cognitive development of her child. Moreover, supplementation of LC-PUFA during pregnancy increases gestation period as well as birth weight of fetus. Placenta preferentially transfers LC-PUFA as a result of selective uptake by syncytiotrophoblast, intracellular metabolism and selective export to fetal circulation. Cellular uptake and intracellular translocation of fatty acid is associated with various membrane associated fatty acid binding proteins such as plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm), fatty acid translocase (FAT/ CD36) and fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs) along with cytoplasmic fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs). FABP pm is preferentially involved in uptake of LC-PUFAs. FATP-4 protein has key importance in mediating DHA transfer across the human placenta. This review summarizes biosynthesis of LC-PUFAs, placental transfer and its effect on maternal and fetal outcome.