High maternal osteocalcin levels during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight infants: A nested case-control
Luyun Wei1, Dehao Cao1, Xiujuan Zhu1
1Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Colleges and Universities, Nanning, Guangxi, China; School of Public Health of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
Insights
High maternal serum osteocalcin (OC) in early pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of low birth weight (LBW) infants. This association was not observed in the third trimester.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Low birth weight infants (LBW) face increased risks of chronic diseases due to altered maternal energy metabolism during pregnancy.
- Osteocalcin (OC) is a key hormone regulating energy metabolism, but its association with LBW is under-researched.
- Understanding factors influencing fetal growth is crucial for long-term infant health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal serum osteocalcin (OC) concentrations and the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) infants.
- To determine if OC levels during different trimesters of pregnancy are associated with LBW.
- To explore the potential role of OC as a biomarker for predicting LBW risk.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study involving 230 mothers of LBW infants and 382 matched controls.
- Maternal serum samples collected during the first, second, and third trimesters of gestation.
- Analysis of maternal serum osteocalcin (OC) and 25(OH)D concentrations using binary logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for LBW.
Main Results:
- Elevated maternal serum OC in the first trimester was significantly associated with a 2.29-fold increased risk of LBW (adjusted OR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.11-4.72).
- High OC levels in the second trimester showed a 1.59-fold increased risk of LBW (adjusted OR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.03-2.45).
- No significant association was found between maternal serum OC levels and LBW in the third trimester, nor between 25(OH)D concentrations and LBW.
Conclusions:
- High maternal serum osteocalcin (OC) levels during the first and second trimesters may be predictive of an increased risk for delivering low birth weight (LBW) infants.
- These findings suggest a potential role for early pregnancy OC monitoring in identifying infants at risk for LBW.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking OC to fetal growth and LBW.
Background:
Low birth weight infants (LBW) are at risk of chronic diseases in later life due to the disorder of energy metabolism during pregnancy. Osteocalcin (OC) has been identified as a hormone that regulate energy metabolism. However, few studies have researched on the associations between maternal serum OC levels and low birth weight infants.
Objections:
To examine the associations between maternal serum OC concentrations and LBW.
Methods:
This was a nested case-control study involving a total of 230 pregnant women delivering LBW and 382 control pregnant women (matched for infant gender, gestational age at blood draw, region of Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital and maternal age in 1: (1-2) ratio). One serum sample was collected from each pregnant woman at 5-35 weeks' gestation. Pregnant women were divided into 3 groups (1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester group). There were 60 and 142 and 28 pregnant women delivering LBW in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. Similarly, there were 101 and 233 and 48 controls in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. Maternal serum OC and 25(OH)D concentrations were categorized into low and high levels, the low level used as reference in analyses. Binary logistic regression model was used to compute odd radio (ORs) for LBW according to levels of maternal serum OC and 25(OH)D.
Results:
Compared with the subjects in low level in first trimester, LBW was two times as likely to occur among pregnancy women with high serum OC concentrations (OR = 2.04, 95%CI:1.05-3.96). After adjusted for confounding factors, a significant positive relationship still existed (adjusted ORs = 2.29, 95%CI: 1.11-4.72). In second trimester, women in high level of serum OC had nearly 1.6 times the risk of delivering LBW infants as those in the low level (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.01-2.37). After adjusted for confounding factors, the ORs increased (ORs = 1.59, 95%CI:1.03-2.45). No significant associations were found between maternal serum OC levels and LBW in third trimester. In addition, there were no associations between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and LBW during pregnancy.
Conclusion:
High maternal serum OC levels in the first or the second trimester during pregnancy may be associated with the risk of LBW.
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