Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2025
Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
Cord Blood Metabolite Profiles and Childhood Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort
Christin Kaupper1,2, Sophia Blaauwendraad3,4, Romy Gaillard3,4
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, c.kaupper@erasmusmc.nl.
Insights
Cord blood metabolite profiles at birth did not consistently predict childhood cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. This study found no significant associations between early-life metabolites and later health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Metabolomics
- Cardiovascular health
Background:
- In utero exposures may alter organ development, increasing later cardio-metabolic risk.
- Metabolic pathway adaptations are hypothesized to link early exposures to later risk.
- This study investigates cord blood metabolites and childhood cardio-metabolic risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between cord blood metabolite profiles and cardio-metabolic risk factors in childhood.
- To determine if specific metabolites at birth predict adverse cardio-metabolic risk profiles later in life.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 763 mother-child pairs.
- Analysis of cord blood serum for amino acids, fatty acids, phospholipids, and carnitines using mass spectrometry.
- Measurement of children's body composition, blood pressure, insulin, and lipids at ages 5.9 and 9.8 years.
Main Results:
- No associations were found between cord blood metabolites and blood pressure, insulin, lipids, or fat mass ratio at either age.
- Cardio-metabolic risk clustering at age 10 years was not associated with cord blood metabolite profiles.
- A potential association of certain carnitine metabolites with risk clustering at age 6 did not persist after adjustment for confounders.
Conclusions:
- No consistent associations were observed between cord blood metabolites and cardiovascular risk factors in school-aged children.
- Early-life metabolic profiles, as measured in cord blood, may not be strong predictors of childhood cardio-metabolic risk.
Introduction:
Adverse exposures in utero might cause adaptations of cardiovascular and metabolic organ development, predisposing individuals to an adverse cardio-metabolic risk profile from childhood onwards. We hypothesized that adaptations in metabolic pathways underlie these associations and examined associations of metabolite profiles at birth with childhood cardio-metabolic risk factors.
Methods:
The study included 763 mother-child pairs participating in an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study with an overall low disease risk. Cord blood serum concentrations of amino acids (AAs), nonesterified fatty acids, phospholipids and carnitines (Carn) were obtained using a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass-spectrometry. We measured android/gynoid fat mass ratio, blood pressure, insulin, and lipid concentrations at the children's age of 5.9 (0.3) and 9.8 (0.9) years.
Results:
We did not observe associations of cord blood metabolites with systolic or diastolic blood pressure, insulin, triglycerides, and android/gynoid fat mass ratio at both ages and cardio-metabolic risk clustering at age 10 years. Five short- and medium-chain Carn.a metabolites were positively associated with cardio-metabolic risk clustering at age 6 but did not survive more stringent confounder adjustment.
Conclusion:
No consistent associations between cord blood metabolites and cardiovascular risk factors at school age were observed.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:25Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...