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Maternal Glycemia During Pregnancy and Early Offspring Development: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study
Peng Wang1,2,3, Jun Xie1,2,3, Xue-Chun Jiao1
1Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|May 13, 2021
Summary
Maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and elevated glucose levels during pregnancy are linked to impaired neurodevelopment in children. Even glucose levels below diabetes diagnostic thresholds show continuous associations with developmental risks.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The link between maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and offspring neurodevelopment is debated.
- Limited evidence exists on the association between increasing maternal glucose levels and neurodevelopmental risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the continuous association between maternal glucose levels and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring.
- To explore the role of cord metabolites in this association.
Main Methods:
- A prospective birth cohort study of 1036 mother-child pairs.
- Maternal glucose levels (GDM, oral-glucose-tolerance test) assessed during pregnancy.
- Offspring neurodevelopment evaluated at 12 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3).
Main Results:
- Maternal GDM correlated with communication domain deficits in offspring.
- Higher maternal glucose levels (fasting, 1-h, 2-h) were associated with personal-social domain deficits.
- Boys exposed to higher maternal glucose showed increased risk for personal-social domain failure.
Conclusions:
- Maternal glucose levels, even below diagnostic thresholds for diabetes, are continuously associated with impaired offspring neurodevelopment at 12 months.
- Gestational diabetes mellitus impacts communication development, potentially mediated by C-peptide.
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