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Title: TRANS FATTY ACIDS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT REPORT OF THE EXPERT PANEL ON TRANSFATTY ACIDS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Author
item Emken, Edward
item CARLSON, SUSAN - UNIV OF TENNESSEE
item CLANDININ, M - UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA CA
item COOK, HAROLD - DALHOUSIE UNIV HALIFAX NS
item FILER, LLOYD - UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This review evaluates the scientific data associated with the possibility that trans fatty acids compromise fetal and infant early development. Concerns have been triggered by recent research on fetal and infant development that has heightened our awareness of the importance of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids; shown that trans fatty acids inhibit 6-desaturation of linoleic acid; identified trans fatty acid isomers in fetal, infant, and maternal tissues; and reported an inverse association between the trans fatty acid content of tissue lipids and measures of growth and development. However, results from studies with animal models provide little direct evidence that trans fatty acids influence growth, reproduction, or gross aspects of fetal development. Human studies are hampered by the complexity of the interrelationships among nutrition, genetics, and environmental factors and by ethical considerations that constrain the research design. Mechanisms exist in a normal fetus and infant than can compensate for some nutritional and environmental adversity. These mechanisms may impede research needed to obtain definitive evidence for their affect. A causal relationship between trans fatty acids and early development has not been established and conclusions drawn from indirect evidence may be compromised by a variety of confounding factors. The question of whether trans fatty acids adversely affect fetal and infant development is important but warrants additional research. Evaluation of these results and development of recommendations should be done cautiously.