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Effects of obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus on placental phospholipids

Olaf Uhl1, Hans Demmelmair1, María Teresa Segura2

  • 1Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Center, Munich, Germany.

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|May 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and obesity alter placental glycerophospholipids (GPL), affecting fetal growth. Specific fatty acids in placental lipids correlate with fetal development, with implications for infant health.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology and perinatal medicine
  • Metabolic disorders and pregnancy
  • Lipidomics and placental function

Background:

  • Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is linked to adverse offspring outcomes.
  • Placental glycerophospholipid (GPL) composition changes in GDM may indicate altered placental fatty acid transfer and fetal body composition.
  • Obesity during pregnancy also impacts fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of obesity and GDM on placental GPL species composition.
  • To explore the relationship between placental lipid profiles and fetal fatty acid status and growth.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS) molecular species in term placentas.
  • Utilized liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for detailed lipid profiling.
  • Compared placental lipid profiles from lean non-diabetic controls, obese non-diabetics, and lean GDM groups.

Main Results:

  • GDM was associated with increased PE(16:0/22:6) and PE(18:0/20:4), and decreased PC(18:0/20:3), PC(18:1/20:3), and PS(18:0/18:2).
  • Obesity and GDM showed overlapping but not identical effects on placental GPL.
  • Specific placental GPL species, particularly PC(16:0/20:4) and PE species, correlated with fetal arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels, respectively.
  • Placental weight positively correlated with PE levels containing arachidonic acid.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity and GDM significantly alter placental GPL composition, impacting key fatty acids like arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.
  • PC(16:0/20:4) is a key provider of arachidonic acid to the fetus.
  • Placental PE species containing arachidonic acid are linked to placental and infant growth, suggesting a role in fetal development.

Keywords:
Gestational diabetes mellitusPhospholipidsPlacentaPolyunsaturated fatty acids

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