Influence of Maternal Obesity and Gestational Weight Gain on Maternal and Foetal Lipid Profile
Giulia Cinelli1, Marta Fabrizi2, Lucilla Ravà3
1Research Unit for Multifactorial Disease, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico), viale di San Paolo 15, Rome 00146, Italy. giulia.cinelli@opbg.net.
Insights
Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) impacts both maternal and fetal fatty acid profiles, while gestational weight gain (GWG) primarily affects the mother. This study analyzed erythrocyte fatty acids in 435 mother-offspring pairs.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fatty acids (FAs) are vital for fetal growth, brain, and visual development.
- Pregnancy conditions like pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) can alter maternal fatty acid metabolism.
- Understanding these alterations is crucial for optimizing fetal lipid supply.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on maternal and fetal erythrocyte fatty acid profiles.
- To determine how maternal lipid metabolism is affected by these pregnancy-related factors.
- To identify specific fatty acids influenced by maternal BMI and GWG.
Main Methods:
- Erythrocyte fatty acids were analyzed in 435 mothers and their newborns' cord blood.
- Statistical analyses were performed to assess associations between pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG, and fatty acid distributions.
- Adjustments were made for maternal lipid levels to isolate the effects of BMI and GWG.
Main Results:
- Pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with maternal percentages of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), linoleic acid (LA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
- Inadequate GWG was linked to increased 10,14-docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), while excessive GWG was associated with lower DHA in mothers.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI significantly affected fetal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-6, and DHA, independent of maternal lipids.
Conclusions:
- Maternal gestational weight gain influences the maternal lipid profile but not the fetal lipid profile.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI affects both maternal and fetal fatty acid profiles.
- These findings highlight the distinct roles of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG in fetal nutrition and development.
Abstract:
Fatty acids (FAs) are fundamental for a foetus's growth, serving as an energy source, structural constituents of cellular membranes and precursors of bioactive molecules, as well as being essential for cell signalling. Long-chain polyunsaturated FAs (LC-PUFAs) are pivotal in brain and visual development. It is of interest to investigate whether and how specific pregnancy conditions, which alter fatty acid metabolism (excessive pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) or gestational weight gain (GWG)), affect lipid supply to the foetus. For this purpose, we evaluated the erythrocyte FAs of mothers and offspring (cord-blood) at birth, in relation to pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG. A total of 435 mothers and their offspring (237 males, 51%) were included in the study. Distribution of linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), and their metabolites, arachidonic acid, dihomogamma linoleic (DGLA) and ecosapentanoic acid, was significantly different in maternal and foetal erythrocytes. Pre-pregnancy BMI was significantly associated with maternal percentage of MUFAs (Coeff: -0.112; p = 0.021), LA (Coeff: -0.033; p = 0.044) and DHA (Coeff. = 0.055; p = 0.0016); inadequate GWG with DPA (Coeff: 0.637; p = 0.001); excessive GWG with docosaexahenoic acid (DHA) (Coeff. = -0.714; p = 0.004). Moreover, pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with foetus percentage of PUFAs (Coeff: -0.172; p = 0.009), omega 6 (Coeff: -0.098; p = 0.015) and DHA (Coeff: -0.0285; p = 0.036), even after adjusting for maternal lipids. Our findings show that maternal GWG affects maternal but not foetal lipid profile, differently from pre-pregnancy BMI, which influences both.
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