Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Monitoring Blood Glucose in Mouse Offspring After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
06:11

Monitoring Blood Glucose in Mouse Offspring After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Published on: May 17, 2024

Maternal Glucose Metabolism and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Offspring: Modification by Erythrocyte

Xuanqing He1, Sufang Duan2, Jian He2

  • 1Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.

Nutrients
|June 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal glucose metabolism during pregnancy is linked to children's emotional and behavioral problems. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may modify these risks, suggesting a potential protective role for n-3 PUFAs.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Neurobehavioral Outcomes
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and continuous glucose metabolism markers impact offspring neurobehavioral development.
  • The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in modifying the relationship between maternal glucose metabolism and child emotional/behavioral problems is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal glucose metabolism during pregnancy and emotional/behavioral problems in children at age 5.
  • To examine the potential modifying effect of maternal erythrocyte PUFAs on this association.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective birth cohort study of 481 mother-child pairs.
  • Maternal glucose metabolism assessed via GDM diagnosis, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 1h and 2h, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, and HOMA-IR.
  • Maternal erythrocyte PUFAs quantified; children's emotional/behavioral problems assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Main Results:

  • Elevated maternal FPG, 1h OGTT glucose, and HOMA-IR were associated with increased risk of abnormal child total difficulties scores.
  • Maternal insulin levels showed a positive association with abnormal difficulties in girls (interaction effect).
  • Higher maternal n-3 PUFA and lower n-6 PUFA levels attenuated the risk of glucose metabolism-related child emotional and behavioral problems.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal glucose metabolism during pregnancy is a significant risk factor for emotional and behavioral problems in children.
  • Maternal PUFA biomarkers, particularly n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, may play a crucial role in modifying these glucose-related neurobehavioral outcomes.

Keywords:
childrenemotional and behavioral problemsglucose metabolismpolyunsaturated fatty acidspregnancy

More Related Videos

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 105:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational 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, suggesting a...
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism01:19

Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...