Thirdly, adding n-3 PUFA to the diet may induce oxidative stress (L’Abbe et al., 1991). As a result of their double bonds, PUFA are very prone to oxidation. As cell membranes are rich in PUFA, oxidative dam- age can lead to a loss of membrane integrity, altered membrane fluidity and altered transmission of signals within and between different cells (Hughes, 2000). Until now, most studies that investigated the effect of n-3 PUFA in the maternal diet did not consider its implications on the oxidative status. Therefore, the third objective of this study was to investigate whether n-3 PUFA can be added to the maternal diet, without increasing oxidative stress in mother and progeny.