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The relationship between cortisol concentrations in pregnancy and systemic vascular resistance in childhood

Patricia Helen Carvalho Rondó1, Jesuana Oliveira Lemos, Joilane Alves Pereira

  • 1Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, CEP-01246-904, Brazil.

Early Human Development
|February 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy are linked to higher systemic vascular resistance (SVR) in children, suggesting prenatal glucocorticoid exposure may increase childhood cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to maternal stress hormones, like cortisol, can impact fetal development.
  • Childhood cardiovascular health is influenced by early-life environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal cortisol levels in late pregnancy and childhood systemic vascular resistance (SVR).
  • To explore potential links between prenatal glucocorticoid exposure and later cardiovascular risk markers.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 130 Brazilian mother-child pairs.
  • Maternal salivary cortisol measured via enzyme immunoassay in the third trimester.
  • Childhood SVR assessed using the HDI/PulseWave CR-2000 system; child BMI-z scores also recorded.

Main Results:

  • Significant association found between maternal cortisol concentrations and childhood SVR (p=0.043).
  • Maternal cortisol also associated with child BMI-z score (p=0.027), after adjusting for covariates.
  • Adjustments included maternal BMI, birth weight, child's age, and gender.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first study to link maternal pregnancy cortisol to childhood SVR.
  • Findings suggest prenatal excess glucocorticoid exposure may predispose children to vascular complications and future cardiovascular disease.
Abstract

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