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Low-grade inflammation in young adults exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia

Louise Kelstrup1, Tine Dalsgaard Clausen, Elisabeth R Mathiesen

  • 1Center for Pregnant Women with Diabetes, Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. louisekelstrup@dadlnet.dk

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|May 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Maternal overweight, not fetal hyperglycemia exposure, is linked to adult offspring inflammation. This study found no association between high blood sugar during pregnancy and offspring

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Inflammation Research

Background:

  • Intrauterine hyperglycemia, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), may impact offspring's long-term health.
  • Low-grade inflammation, indicated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), is linked to metabolic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between fetal exposure to intrauterine hyperglycemia and plasma IL-6 and hs-CRP levels in adult offspring.
  • To differentiate the impact of maternal hyperglycemia from maternal overweight on offspring's inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 597 adult offspring (18-27 years) categorized by maternal history: GDM, GDM risk factors, type 1 diabetes, or background population.
  • Measured offspring plasma IL-6, hs-CRP, fasting glucose, and anthropometrics.
  • Utilized oral glucose tolerance tests to assess glucose metabolism.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between intrauterine hyperglycemia exposure and offspring IL-6 or hs-CRP levels.
  • Maternal overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) was positively associated with offspring IL-6 and hs-CRP (p=0.003).
  • Offspring with overweight or abnormal glucose tolerance exhibited higher IL-6 and hs-CRP levels (p<0.007).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal overweight is a significant factor associated with low-grade inflammation in adult offspring.
  • Exposure to intrauterine hyperglycemia was not found to be associated with increased IL-6 and hs-CRP levels in adult offspring.
  • These findings highlight the distinct roles of maternal metabolic status and hyperglycemia in offspring's long-term inflammatory profiles.
Abstract

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