Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period
06:40

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period

Published on: April 5, 2024

Maternal and pregnancy related predictors of cardiometabolic traits in newborns

Katherine M Morrison1, Sonia S Anand, Salim Yusuf

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. kmorrison@mcmaster.ca

Plos One
|February 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal health and pregnancy factors influence newborn cardiometabolic traits beyond gestational age. These findings highlight key determinants of infant metabolic health for future research.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiometabolic health research
  • Perinatal and developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)

Background:

  • The impact of maternal and pregnancy factors on offspring cardiometabolic health at birth is not fully understood.
  • This study aimed to investigate these influences in a prospective cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between maternal characteristics, health behaviors, pregnancy factors, and newborn cardiometabolic traits.
  • To identify key determinants of infant cardiometabolic health at birth.

Main Methods:

  • The Family Atherosclerosis Monitoring In earLY life (FAMILY) Study prospectively enrolled 901 infants and 857 mothers.
  • Evaluated 11 newborn cardiometabolic traits and their relationship with maternal pre-pregnancy health, behaviors, and pregnancy characteristics.
  • Utilized principal component analysis to group newborn traits and identify determinants.

Main Results:

  • Greater gestational age positively influenced newborn lipids, glucose, insulin, body fat, and blood pressure.
  • Maternal pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain were key predictors of infant anthropometry and insulin resistance.
  • Maternal smoking and dietary fat intake were inversely associated with infant anthropometry/insulin.
  • Maternal age was linked to lipid profiles, while hypertension and triglycerides were associated with newborn triglycerides.
  • Placental-fetal ratio was inversely associated with newborn glycemia.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal health, behaviors, and placental-fetal ratio are significant determinants of newborn cardiometabolic traits, independent of gestational age.
  • These factors may play a crucial role in establishing long-term cardiometabolic health trajectories in children.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm the persistence of these associations throughout childhood.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Swimming Exercise Protocol and Care Methods for Pregnant Rats05:17

Swimming Exercise Protocol and Care Methods for Pregnant Rats

Published on: April 5, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...