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Prenatal oxidative stress and rapid infant weight gain
Carol Duh-Leong1, Akhgar Ghassabian2,3, Kurunthachalam Kannan2,4
1Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. carol.duh-leong@nyulangone.org.
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|April 3, 2023
Summary
Prenatal exposure to 8-iso-PGF2α, a marker of oxidative stress, is linked to rapid infant weight gain. This finding offers insights into the developmental origins of obesity and related health issues.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Infant weight patterns are predictive of future health outcomes, with rapid weight gain increasing obesity risk.
- Oxidative stress, an imbalance in reactive oxygen species, has been linked to both low birthweight and later obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal oxidative stress biomarkers and rapid infant weight gain.
- To explore the role of prenatal oxidative stress in early life weight patterns linked to future obesity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a prospective pregnancy cohort (NYU Children's Health and Environment Study).
- Measurement of urinary oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid, protein, DNA) during pregnancy.
- Assessment of infant weight gain patterns (weight-for-age z-score changes) from birth to 8 or 12 months.
Main Results:
- Prenatal 8-iso-PGF2α (a lipid oxidative stress biomarker) was significantly associated with rapid infant weight gain (>0.67 WAZ increase).
- A dose-response relationship was observed, with higher 8-iso-PGF2α levels linked to both rapid and very rapid infant weight gain.
- Associations were also found between 8-iso-PGF2α and low birthweight outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal oxidative stress, indicated by 8-iso-PGF2α, is associated with rapid infant weight gain.
- This association contributes to understanding the developmental origins of obesity and cardiometabolic disease.
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