Gestational diabetes (GDM) often leads to high levels of both glucose and lipids in the parent, yet despite this excess, infants exposed to GDM are at risk for deficiencies in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), critical for development. In a recently published study, Siemers et al. examined the effects of high glucose and lipid levels—individually and combined—on human placental cells. Under combined high-glucose and high-lipid conditions, trophoblasts showed compromised mitochondrial function, reduced fatty acid uptake for certain types of fatty acids, and altered lipid droplet distribution. They also identified different rates of uptake with only minor differences in the chemical structure of these long chain fatty acids.
These findings offer valuable insight into the mechanisms that disrupts active fatty acid transport and storage in the placenta, potentially increasing neonatal risks by contributing to lipid accumulation and LCPUFA deficiency.
Read the article here! Congratulations to Kyle Siemers and Dr. Michelle Baack, authors and US DOHaD Society members, and their team on their recent publication!
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