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Cardiovascular risk factors in children exposed to maternal diabetes in utero

N A West1, T L Crume, M A Maligie

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, 13001 East 17th Avenue, Campus Box B-119, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Nancy.West@ucdenver.edu

Diabetologia
|December 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Children exposed to maternal diabetes in utero show increased cardiovascular risks, including higher levels of cellular adhesion molecules. These risks persist even after accounting for maternal and offspring body mass index (BMI).

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiovascular Health

Background:

  • Intrauterine exposure to maternal diabetes has lifelong health implications for offspring.
  • Increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are linked to in utero diabetic environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the relationship between in utero maternal diabetes exposure and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy children.
  • To determine if these associations are independent of maternal prepregnancy BMI and offspring attained BMI.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of children aged 6-13 years (born 1994-2002).
  • Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for demographic factors, pubertal stage, maternal prepregnancy BMI, and offspring attained BMI.

Main Results:

  • Offspring of diabetic pregnancies had higher E-selectin, vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), leptin, waist circumference, BMI, and systolic blood pressure.
  • Adiponectin levels were decreased in exposed offspring.
  • Adjusting for maternal and offspring BMI attenuated some differences, but E-selectin, VCAM1, and waist circumference remained significantly higher in exposed children.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy children exposed to maternal diabetes in utero exhibit an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile.
  • Elevated circulating cellular adhesion molecules suggest early preclinical atherosclerosis and diabetes markers.
  • In utero diabetes exposure poses significant long-term cardiovascular risks to offspring.
Abstract

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