Association between Maternal LDL Level during Pregnancy and Offspring LDL Level at Age 8

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Pediatric Health
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Atherosclerosis, a condition beginning in childhood, elevates risks for heart disease and stroke.
• Understanding early life factors influencing cholesterol levels is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health.
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a key biomarker for cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal serum LDL-C levels during pregnancy and offspring LDL-C levels at age 8.
• To explore potential early-life predictors of cholesterol levels in children.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 1,226 mother-child pairs in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).
• Analyzed maternal LDL-C during pregnancy and offspring LDL-C at age 8.
• Included paternal LDL-C data for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Mean LDL-C levels were 107.0 mg/dL for mothers, 116.5 mg/dL for fathers, and 89.9 mg/dL for offspring.
• Mothers of offspring with above-normal LDL-C (≥ 110 mg/dL) had significantly higher LDL-C levels compared to mothers of offspring with normal LDL-C (< 110 mg/dL).

Conclusions:

• Maternal LDL-C levels during pregnancy may serve as an indicator for offspring's LDL-C levels at age 8.
• Early identification of high LDL-C in offspring can inform strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention.