Maternal chronic consumption of different fat sources affects fetal and placental development in a sex-dependent manner

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy plays a crucial role in determining the health status for both the mother and the child. To support optimal fetal growth, pregnant women undergo a range of intricate physiological adjustments, including an enhanced energy demand. In recent years, the role of the nutritional intake of fat during this period has been widely discussed. Dietary fats are an important source of essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as omega 3 and 6, which are indispensable for the structuring of cell membranes and, thus, for placental development and fetal growth.