Prenatal factors associated with fetal visceral adiposity

To assess fetal visceral adiposity and associated factors during pregnancy.

Secondary analysis of prospective cohort data with 172 pairs (pregnant woman/fetus) treated at public health units. Anthropometric data, metabolic (glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides) measures, fetal biometry, and visceral and subcutaneous adiposity in the binomial (pregnant woman/fetus) were evaluated at the 16^th, 28^th and 36^th gestational weeks by ultrasonography. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were used, with a significance level of 5%.

At the 16^th week, the mean age of the pregnant women was 26.6±5.8 years and mean weight was 62.7±11.5kg; 47.0% had normal weight, 28.3% were overweight, 13.3% were underweight, and 11.2% were obese. At 36 weeks, 44.1% had inadequate gestational weight gain, 32.5% had adequate gestational weight gain, and 23.3% had excessive gestational weight gain. Fetal visceral adiposity at week 36 showed a positive correlation with maternal variables: weight (r=0.15) and body mass index (r=0.21) at the 16^th; with weight (r=0.19), body mass index (r=0.24), and gestational weight gain (r=0.21) at the 28^th; and with weight (r=0.22), body mass index (r=0.26), and gestational weight gain (r=0.21) at the 36^th week. After multiple linear regression, adiposity at the 28^th week remained associated with fetal variables: abdominal circumference (p<0.0001), head circumference (p=0.01), area (p<0.0001), and thigh circumference (p<0.001). At the 36^th week, adiposity remained associated with the abdominal circumference of the 28^th (p=0.02) and 36^th weeks (p<0.001).

Adiposity was positively correlated with the measurements of the pregnant woman. After the multivariate analysis, the persistence of the association occurred with the abdominal circumference, a central adiposity measurement with a higher metabolic risk.