In newborns born to mothers with gestational diabetes, using gas chromatography, the spectrum of serum fatty acids (from umbilical blood) just after delivery, was assessed. The newborns (n = 10) were born in term (40.1 weeks gestational age) with physiological parameters: body weight (3836 g) and length (50.1 cm). Fatty acids are expressed in % (i.e. their relative ratio) of total amount (ĺ = 100 %). The established values were compared with control data obtained in physiological newborns (n = 6). Gestational diabetes of pregnant mothers (IIIrd trimester of pregnancy) influences the fatty acid spectrum of their newborns: 1. A significant increased percentage of saturated FA. 2. A significant decrease of polyunsaturated n-3 and n-6 acids was described. There was a decrease of important fatty acids such as arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic FA. The possible mechanism as well as the possible after-effects of such changes and differences are discussed.

        Key words: fatty acid spectrum, gestational diabetes, newborns