Levels of Unesterified and Esterified Fatty Acids in Umbilical Blood of Hypoxic Fetuses

Abstract

Hypoxia of the fetus leads to a rise in the level of unesterified fatty acids in the umbilical artery, while the level of esterified fatty acids is not affected. The degree of hypoxia is important. Slight hypoxia causes the greatest rise, severe hypoxia has no effect. The most probable cause of this rise is thought to be fatty acid mobilization by the fetus.