DHA SERUM CONCENTRATIONS DIFFER ACCORDING SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE IN A COHORT OF BRAZILIAN PREGNANT WOMEN IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis based on baseline data from a cohort conducted in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. The sample comprised 229 pregnant women, aged 20-40 years and between 5-13th weeks of pregnancy. Serum samples were analyzed to determine the DHA concentration (µg/mL), employing gas-liquid chromatography. Independent variables included per-capita income (<median/ ≥median), skin color (black/white or brown), ABEP scale of economic classification (based on access to goods: 11 items and maximum score of 34; score <17/ ≥17), household status (homeowners/rented or borrowed), and marital status (lives with a partner/single). Statistical analyses comprised median and interquartile range (IQR) to describe independent variables and t-test to compare DHA means (results as mean [95% CI]) for total sample and BMI groups (< 25 or ≥ 25 kg/m²).
RESULTS: The per-capita median income was 281.0 (IQR: 175.4–409.4) dollars, 26.2% of the sample was of black skin color and 53.3% had an ABEP score lower than 17. Mean concentrations of DHA were lower in the sample with per-capita income below the median (52.9 [50.0–55.9] vs. 59.4 [56.2–62.7], p=0.002), with black skin color (53.0 [48.6–57.4] vs. 57.3 [54.8–59.9], p=0.045) and with lower ABEP score (54.0 [50.8–57.1] vs. 58.6 [55.6–61.5], p=0.019). The DHA concentration was lower in homeowners only in women with BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m² (56.1 [51.8–60.4] vs. 66.5 [59.6–73.4], p=0.004].
CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women with socioeconomic profile historically linked to social exclusion as low-income, black color and lack of access to goods presented lower serum concentrations of DHA when compared to their counterparts.