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Maternal Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Pregnancy and Child Growth from Birth to Age 6
Olufunmilayo Arogbokun1,2, Emma Rosen1, Alexander P Keil1,2
1Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Insights
Maternal prenatal oxidative stress was linked to lower birth weight and increased childhood weight and BMI. This suggests a connection between in-utero oxidative stress and later metabolic health in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Developmental Biology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy has potential lifelong impacts on child health.
- Animal studies link prenatal oxidative stress to offspring metabolic dysfunction and weight gain.
- Human studies on this relationship are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal oxidative stress biomarkers and child weight and BMI z-scores from birth to age 6.
- To explore the impact of specific oxidative stress markers on early childhood growth trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES) prospective cohort (N=736).
- Measured child weight and BMI z-scores from birth to age 6.
- Quantified urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and its metabolite in the third trimester.
Main Results:
- Prenatal 8-iso-PGF2α and its metabolite were associated with lower birth weight.
- Higher levels of these biomarkers correlated with increased child weight and BMI at age 4.
- Elevated 8-iso-PGF2α increased the likelihood of following a 'low-high' weight trajectory.
Conclusions:
- Third-trimester oxidative stress is associated with altered birth weight and increased early childhood weight and BMI.
- Findings highlight the role of prenatal oxidative stress in the developmental origins of childhood obesity and metabolic disease.
Context:
Maternal oxidative stress in pregnancy can arise through a multitude of sources and may have lifelong consequences for the child. Animal studies suggest that prenatal oxidative stress may contribute to metabolic dysfunction and excessive weight gain in the offspring. However, this relationship has been studied minimally in humans.
Objective:
Determine the association between prenatal oxidative stress biomarkers and child weight and body mass index (BMI) z-scores from birth to age 6.
Methods:
Within The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES) prospective pregnancy cohort, we calculated age- and sex-specific Z-scores for child weight and BMI, measured between birth and age 6 (N = 736). Three oxidative stress biomarkers were quantified in third-trimester urine, including 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), its primary metabolite, and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). We examined associations between each biomarker and Z-scores using linear regression as well as group-based trajectory modeling.
Results:
Prenatal 8-iso-PGF2α and its metabolite were associated with lower birth weight and higher weight at age 4. For example, an ln-unit increase in 8-iso-PGF2α was associated with 0.17 SD higher weight at age 4 (95% CI 0.01, 0.33). These biomarkers were also associated with higher BMI at age 4. Finally, within 4 unique weight trajectories (low, normal, high, and low-high), children of mothers with higher 8-iso-PGF2α were 2.56 times more likely (95% CI 1.22, 5.41) to be in the low-high trajectory than children in the normal group.
Conclusion:
We observed associations between third-trimester oxidative stress and lower birth weight as well as higher early childhood weight and BMI. These findings have important implications for understanding the developmental origins of childhood weight gain and metabolic disease.
