<em>FADS</em> genes &ndash; Key genetic regulators of polyunsaturated fatty acid levels.

This work investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FADS (fatty acid desaturase) gene cluster and the composition of fatty acids in blood of pregnant and breast milk of lactating women in two cohort studies. Polymorphisms were genotyped using MALDI-TOF MS and associations were analyzed with statistical methods. Additionally, the functional relevance of two associated promoter polymorphisms was investigated by in vitro experiments. The results of this work support an influence of maternal FADS genotypes on the child&rsquo;s fatty acid supply during pregnancy and lactation and allow first insights into allele-dependent mechanisms of FADS transcription