Transplacental nutrient transfer in the human in vivo determined by 4 vessel sampling

Few studies have used 4 vessel sampling to study placental nutrient transfer in human pregnancies. Overall these studies indicate that the transfer of nutrients between the mother and the fetus is highly “dynamic,” i.e. most nutrients may pass either way on both the maternal and fetal sides of the placenta. Furthermore, the concept that the placenta is a metabolically highly active organ affecting transfer of glucose, amino acids and lipids, fits the human in vivo data. The 4-vessel method can provide essential information on the transfer between the mother, placenta and fetus of virtually any compound.