PMC544881_01
Serum triglyceride level and corresponding dietary fat intake and gemfibrozil administration during pregnancy *Dietary fat was expressed as % of total caloric intake.
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F1
She had been in excellent physical condition and had continued her routine 10-20% fat diet during the first trimester (Figure 1).
Essential fatty acid profile in maternal blood EFA: essential fatty acids, from sunflower seed oil. Measurement was made in the phospholipid fractions. 20:3(n-9): eicosatrienoic acid (ETA). 20:4(n-6): arachidonic acid (AA).
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F2
In addition to the total amount and % of each FA, the ratio of eicosatrienoic acid (ETA, 20:3(n-9)) to arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4(n-6)) was calculated (Figure 2). By week 26, the ratio had risen from 0.032 to 0.052 (Fig 2), suggesting a trend to a less EFA abundant state. A peak to a ratio of 0.09 occurred at week 34 possibly due to irregular uses of topical PUFA (Figure 2).
Fatty acid composition in maternal and cord plasma LA: linoleic acid. ALA: alpha-linolenic acid. ETA: eicosatrienoic acid. AA: arachidonic acid.
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F3
Immediately postpartum, placental fetal blood and maternal plasma was obtained for total fatty acid analysis (Figure 3).
PMC544881_02
Gemfibrozil metabolite III levels in the fetal cord blood *Ref. range: 0.5 - 40 mug/ml
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F4
The analysis was performed as a courtesy of the Research Lab at the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical (Ann Arbor, Michigan) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and revealed similar concentrations of the drug and its active metabolites in both umbilical vein and artery, which were within the normal reference range for adults (Figure 4).