001488436 001__ 1488436 001488436 005__ 20240306003234.0 001488436 02470 $$ahttps://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071753$$2DOI 001488436 037__ $$aIR 001488436 041__ $$aeng 001488436 245__ $$aSelf-Reported Intake and Circulating EPA and DHA Concentrations in US Pregnant Women 001488436 269__ $$a2023-04-04 001488436 520__ $$aIn the United States, pregnant women have low concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are essential for fetal development. Although maternal blood provides accurate polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, venipuncture is expensive and not always accessible. PUFA-containing foods consumption, both omega-3 ad omega-6 is supposed to reflect in the status (plasma, RBC, adipose tissue) of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). De novo synthesis of DHA and EPA during pregnancy is supposed to be higher compared to pre and/or post-pregnancy periods. Thus, this study aimed to determine the association between maternal self-reported dietary intake of foods high in DHA and EPA, along with vegetable oils as a source of omega-6 fatty acids, with maternal blood DHA and EPA concentrations. Pregnant women (13–16 weeks gestation) were recruited and asked to complete a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and blood draw at enrollment and 36 weeks. Circulating concentrations of DHA and EPA were quantified and change scores were calculated. Correlations were done to determine associations between FFQ results and EPA/DHA maternal blood concentrations. Regression analyses were run to examine significant predictors of the main outcomes. Overall, PUFA-food consumption and RBC’s DHA levels decreased from early to late pregnancy; self-reported PUFA-rich food consumption positively correlated with DHA and EPA levels. DHA concentration was predicted by self-reported PUFA-rich oils (sunflower/soy/corn/olive) consumption, but EPA concentration was predicted by maternal BMI. These findings suggest that EPA and DHA consumption decreased across pregnancy and the FFQ can be utilized as an effective method for estimating PUFA blood concentration during pregnancy. 001488436 6531_ $$adietary assessment 001488436 6531_ $$afood intake 001488436 6531_ $$apolyunsaturated fatty acid 001488436 6531_ $$aDHA 001488436 6531_ $$aEPA 001488436 6531_ $$apregnancy 001488436 7001_ $$aLanier, Keri$$uCampbell University 001488436 7001_ $$aWisseman, Breanna$$uEast Carolina University 001488436 7001_ $$aStrom, Cody J.$$uUniversity of Southern Indiana 001488436 7001_ $$aJohnston, Carol A.$$uEast Carolina University 001488436 7001_ $$aIsler, Christy$$uEast Carolina University 001488436 7001_ $$aDeVente, James$$uEast Carolina University 001488436 7001_ $$aNewton, Edward$$uEast Carolina University 001488436 7001_ $$aPawlak, Roman$$uEast Carolina University 001488436 7001_ $$aAllman-Tucker, Brittany A.$$uUniversity of Central Arkansas 001488436 7001_ $$aMcDonald, Samantha$$uIllinois State University 001488436 7001_ $$aMay, Linda E.$$u East Carolina University 001488436 8564_ $$96666027a-7c8a-4e62-b067-66b5c8e18380$$s284419$$uhttps://library.usi.edu/record/1488436/files/nutrients-15-01753-v3.pdf 001488436 909CO $$ooai:library.usi.edu:1488436$$pGLOBAL_SET 001488436 980__ $$aMANUSCRIPT