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Maternal Glucose Concentrations in Early Pregnancy and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Childhood

Rama J Wahab1,2, Ellis Voerman1,2, Pauline W Jansen1,3

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|April 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Maternal early pregnancy glucose and insulin levels are linked to higher childhood glucose and insulin concentrations. These associations were influenced by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, but not other cardiometabolic risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Maternal metabolic health during early pregnancy is crucial for offspring development.
  • Understanding the long-term impact of maternal glucose and insulin on child cardiometabolic health is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal early-pregnancy glucose and insulin levels and offspring cardiometabolic risk factors.
  • To explore the relationship between maternal metabolic markers and childhood fat distribution.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involving 3,737 mothers and their children.
  • Maternal glucose and insulin were measured in early pregnancy (median 13.2 weeks gestation).
  • Childhood cardiometabolic risk factors (fat, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, insulin) were assessed at age 10.

Main Results:

  • Higher maternal early-pregnancy glucose and insulin concentrations correlated with increased risk of childhood overweight.
  • Elevated maternal insulin in early pregnancy was linked to a higher risk of clustered childhood cardiometabolic risk factors.
  • Independent of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, higher maternal glucose and insulin were associated with increased childhood glucose and insulin levels.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal early-pregnancy glucose and insulin concentrations are associated with offspring glucose and insulin levels.
  • These associations were mediated by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.
  • No significant associations were found with other childhood cardiometabolic risk factors or fat measures.
Abstract

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