Maternal Obesity Is Associated With Higher Cord Blood Adipokines in Offspring Most Notably in Females
Ángela Jaramillo-Ospina1, Erika Castaño-Moreno1, Estefanía Muñoz-Muñoz1
1Nutrition and Food Technology Institute, Universidad de Chile.
Insights
Maternal obesity in women is linked to higher birth weight and placental efficiency in offspring. It also increases cord blood adiponectin and leptin levels, particularly in male newborns, with notable effects on female newborns
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Neonatal Research
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Pregravid obesity in mothers poses risks to offspring, but early markers and gender differences in neonates are unclear.
- Existing evidence on metabolic and inflammatory markers in offspring of obese mothers is conflicting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cord blood adipokines and cytokines in neonates born to mothers with obesity versus normal weight.
- To analyze anthropometric characteristics and their association with maternal body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 221 mother-child dyads.
- Measurement of cord blood adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, TNF-α).
- Assessment of anthropometrics and placental characteristics.
Main Results:
- Offspring of obese mothers had higher birth weight, were larger for gestational age, and had heavier placentas.
- Male neonates from obese mothers showed higher weight, length, and placental efficiency.
- Elevated cord blood adiponectin and leptin were observed in offspring of obese mothers, with higher leptin in female neonates.
Conclusions:
- Maternal obesity is associated with increased cord blood adiponectin and leptin in neonates.
- Significant anthropometric effects were noted in male offspring, and leptin effects in female newborns.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term postnatal implications.
Background:
Deleterious long-term effects in the offspring from women with pregravid obesity have been described; however, the evidence supporting early metabolic and inflammatory markers in the offspring at birth and gender differences are conflicting.
Objective:
The present study aimed to compare cord blood adipokines and cytokines concentrations and anthropometric characteristics of the offspring of women with maternal obesity (MO) and normal-weight mothers (NWM). Also, maternal and neonatal variables on the association of maternal body mass index (BMI) with cord blood adipokines were evaluated.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analysis of a subsample of mother-child dyads participating in a cohort study (n = 221) was assessed. Anthropometrics, cord blood adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) and cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 p40, IL-12p70, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor α) concentrations in the offspring of normal-weight women (BMI >18.5 and <24.9 kg/m2) and women with pregravid obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) without comorbidities was performed.
Results:
Offspring from mothers with obesity had higher birth weight, a higher proportion of large for gestational age, higher ponderal index, and heavier placentae than offspring from normal-weight mothers (P < 0.05). Within the offspring from women with obesity, males had significantly higher weight, length, the proportion of large-for-gestational-age newborns, higher weight for length ratio. Males had more efficient placentas than females (P < 0.05). Higher adiponectin and leptin in both sexes and higher leptin in female offspring of mothers with obesity after adjusting for birth size (P < 0.05) were found. Higher IL-12p40 in the offspring of women with MO with no other differences in other cytokines among groups were evidenced.
Conclusions:
Maternal obesity associates with a higher concentration of adiponectin and leptin in their offspring at birth. There is a relevant effect on anthropometrics in male offspring and on leptin in female newborn. Further studies need to evaluate the extension of these effects in postnatal life.
Trail Identification Number:
NCT02903134.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational