Abstract
We investigated whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) associated with maternal obesity modifies theplacental profile of F4-Neuroprostanes and F2-Isoprostanes, metabolites of non-enzymatic oxidation of docosahexaenoicacid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), respectively. Twenty-five placental samples were divided intolean (n=11), obesity (n=7) and overweight/obesity+GDM (n=7) groups. F4-Neuroprostanes and F2-Isoprostaneswere higher in obesity compared to lean controls, but reduced to levels similar to lean women when obesity isfurther complicated with GDM. Lower content of F2-Isoprostanes suggests adaptive placental responses in GDMattenuating oxidative stress. However, low levels of placental F4-Neuroprostanes may indicate impaired DHAmetabolism in GDM, affecting fetal development and offspring health. These results were not related to differencesin placental content of DHA, AA and polyunsaturated fatty acids status nor to maternal diet or gestationalweight gain. Placental DHA and AA metabolism differs in obesity and GDM, highlighting the importance ofinvestigating the signalling roles of F4-Neuroprostanes and F2-Isoprostanes in the human term placenta.