Aim:

To detect genetic variants reliably associated with red blood cell membrane fatty acids (FAs).

Hypothesis:

We hypothesise that variants across the genome will be associated with FA levels during pregnancy.

Variables:

The exposure variable will be imputed maternal genotype, while antenatal FA levels will be the outcome.

Data on 40 different FAs were extracted from antenatal blood samples taken from ALSPAC mothers, these included saturated, omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 FAs. Genome-wide association analyses will be performed on each of the FAs available in ALSPAC, using a univariable linear regression model, regressing FA level on maternal genotype.

Previous studies have found associations with omega-3 and omega-6 Fas and both the FADS gene cluster on Chromosome 11 and the ELOVL2 gene on Chromosome 6 (1, 2). We propose to investigate whether these findings are consistent among pregnant women, and whether any further associations are found with other FA families.

1. Lemaitre RN, Tanaka T, Tang W, Manichaikul A, Foy M, Kabagambe EK, et al. Genetic loci associated with plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from the CHARGE Consortium. PLoS genetics. 2011;7(7):e1002193. Epub 2011/08/11.

2. Tanaka T, Shen J, Abecasis GR, Kisialiou A, Ordovas JM, Guralnik JM, et al. Genome-wide association study of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids in the InCHIANTI Study. PLoS genetics. 2009;5(1):e1000338. Epub 2009/01/17.