Omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are known to regulate lipid metabolism and inflammation; however, the regulation of maternal lipid metabolism and cytokines profile by n-3 PUFA during different gestation stages, and its impact on fetal sustainability is not known. We investigated the effects of maternal diet varying in n-3 PUFA prior to, and during gestation, on maternal metabolic profile, placental inflammatory cytokines, and fetal outcomes. Female C57BL/6 mice were fed either a high, low or very low (9, 3 or 1% w/w n-3 PUFA) diet, containing n-6:n-3 PUFA of 5:1, 20:1 and 40:1, respectively for two weeks before mating, and throughout pregnancy. Animals were sacrificed prior to mating (NP), and during pregnancy at gestation days 6.5, 12.5 and 18.5. Maternal metabolic profile, placental cytokines and fetal outcomes were determined. Our results show for the first time that a maternal diet high in n-3 PUFA prevented dyslipidemia in NP mice, and maintained the expected lipid profile during pregnancy. However, females fed the very low n-3 PUFA diet became hyperlipidemic prior to pregnancy, and carried this profile into pregnancy. Maternal diet high in n-3 PUFA maintained maternal plasma progesterone and placental pro-inflammatory cytokines profile, and sustained fetal numbers throughout pregnancy, while females fed the low and very-low n-3 PUFA diet had fewer fetuses. Our findings demonstrate the importance of maternal diet before, and during pregnancy, to maintain maternal metabolic profile and fetus sustainability. These findings are important when designing dietary strategies to optimize maternal metabolism during pregnancy for successful pregnancy outcome.

众所周知，Omega (n)-3 多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA) 可调节脂质代谢和炎症；然而，n-3 PUFA 在不同妊娠阶段对母体脂质代谢和细胞因子谱的调节及其对胎儿可持续性的影响尚不清楚。我们调查了孕前和孕期中 n-3 PUFA 含量不同的母体饮食对母体代谢特征、胎盘炎症细胞因子和胎儿结局的影响。给雌性 C57BL/6 小鼠喂食高、低或极低（9、3 或 1% w/w n-3 PUFA）饮食，其中 n-6:n-3 PUFA 为 5:1、20:1 和40：1，分别在交配前两周和整个孕期。在交配前 (NP) 和怀孕期间在妊娠 6.5、12.5 和 18.5 天处死动物。测定了母体代谢谱、胎盘细胞因子和胎儿结局。我们的研究结果首次表明，高 n-3 PUFA 的母体饮食可预防 NP 小鼠的血脂异常，并在怀孕期间保持预期的血脂水平。然而，饲喂极低 n-3 PUFA 饮食的雌性在怀孕前会出现高脂血症，并将这种情况带入怀孕。n-3 PUFA 含量高的母体饮食可维持母体血浆孕酮和胎盘促炎细胞因子谱，并在整个怀孕期间维持胎儿数量，而喂食低和极低 n-3 PUFA 饮食的女性胎儿数量较少。我们的研究结果证明了孕前和孕期母体饮食对于维持母体代谢状况和胎儿可持续性的重要性。在设计饮食策略以优化怀孕期间的母体代谢以获得成功的妊娠结局时，这些发现非常重要。