Dataset Information

Exposure to maternal fuels during pregnancy and offspring hepatic fat in early childhood: The healthy start study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intrauterine overnutrition has been associated with paediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the exact mechanisms involved remain unclear.

Objective

To examine whether maternal fuels and metabolic markers during pregnancy are associated with offspring hepatic fat in childhood.

Methods

This analysis included 286 mother-child pairs from the Healthy Start Study, a longitudinal pre-birth cohort in Colorado. Fasting blood draws were collected in early pregnancy (~17 weeks) and mid-pregnancy (~27 weeks). Offspring hepatic fat was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ~5 years.

Results

In early pregnancy, maternal triglycerides (TGs) and free fatty acids (FFAs) were positively associated with offspring hepatic fat [Back-transformed β (95% CI): 1.15 (1.05, 1.27) per 1 standard deviation (SD) TGs; 1.14 (1.05, 1.23) per 1 SD FFAs]. Maternal total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were also associated with offspring hepatic fat, but only among boys [1.22 (1.08, 1.37) per 1 SD TC; 1.21 (1.07, 1.37) per 1 SD LDL-C]. In mid-pregnancy, only maternal TGs remained associated with offspring hepatic fat. Adjusting for potential confounders or mediators did not affect associations.

Conclusions

Maternal lipid concentrations, especially in early pregnancy, are associated with higher offspring hepatic fat, and may, therefore, be targeted in future interventions among pregnant women.

SUBMITTER: Cohen CC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9177565 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Exposure to maternal fuels during pregnancy and offspring hepatic fat in early childhood: The healthy start study.

Cohen Catherine C CC Francis Ellen C EC Perng Wei W Sauder Katherine A KA Scherzinger Ann A Sundaram Shikha S SS Shankar Kartik K Dabelea Dana D

Pediatric obesity 20220205 7

<h4>Background</h4>Intrauterine overnutrition has been associated with paediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the exact mechanisms involved remain unclear.<h4>Objective</h4>To examine whether maternal fuels and metabolic markers during pregnancy are associated with offspring hepatic fat in childhood.<h4>Methods</h4>This analysis included 286 mother-child pairs from the Healthy Start Study, a longitudinal pre-birth cohort in Colorado. Fasting blood draws were collected in early ...[more]

PMID: 35122420

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Project description:BackgroundOvernutrition in utero may increase offspring risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the specific contribution of maternal diet quality during pregnancy to this association remains understudied in humans.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the associations of maternal diet quality during pregnancy with offspring hepatic fat in early childhood (median: 5 y old, range: 4-8 y old).MethodsData were from 278 mother-child pairs in the longitudinal, Colorado-based Healthy Start Study. Multiple 24-h recalls were collected from mothers during pregnancy on a monthly basis (median: 3 recalls, range: 1-8 recalls starting after enrollment), and used to estimate maternal usual nutrient intakes and dietary pattern scores [Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), and Relative Mediterranean Diet Score (rMED)]. Offspring hepatic fat was measured in early childhood by MRI. Associations of maternal dietary predictors during pregnancy with offspring log-transformed hepatic fat were assessed using linear regression models adjusted for offspring demographics, maternal/perinatal confounders, and maternal total energy intake.ResultsHigher maternal fiber intake and rMED scores during pregnancy were associated with lower offspring hepatic fat in early childhood in fully adjusted models [Back-transformed β (95% CI): 0.82 (0.72, 0.94) per 5 g/1000 kcal fiber; 0.93 (0.88, 0.99) per 1 SD for rMED]. In contrast, higher maternal total sugar and added sugar intakes, and DII scores were associated with higher offspring hepatic fat [Back-transformed β (95% CI): 1.18 (1.05, 1.32) per 5% kcal/d added sugar; 1.08 (0.99, 1.18) per 1 SD for DII]. Analyses of dietary pattern subcomponents also revealed that lower maternal intakes of green vegetables and legumes and higher intake of "empty calories" were associated with higher offspring hepatic fat in early childhood.ConclusionsPoorer maternal diet quality during pregnancy was associated with greater offspring susceptibility to hepatic fat in early childhood. Our findings provide insights into potential perinatal targets for the primordial prevention of pediatric NAFLD.

Project description:ContextThe impact of specific maternal fuels and metabolic measures during early and late gestation on neonatal body composition is not well defined.ObjectiveTo determine how circulating maternal glucose, lipids, and insulin resistance in the first and second halves of pregnancy influence neonatal body composition.DesignA prospective pre-birth cohort enrolling pregnant women, the Healthy Start Study, was conducted, in which fasting maternal serum samples were collected twice during pregnancy to measure glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and free fatty acids. Neonatal body composition was measured with air displacement plethysmography.SettingAn observational epidemiology study of pregnant women attending obstetric clinics at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center.ParticipantsThis analysis includes 804 maternal-neonate pairs.ResultsA strong positive linear relationship between maternal estimated insulin resistance (homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance) in the first half of pregnancy and neonatal fat mass (FM) and FM percentage (FM%) was detected, independent of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI). In the second half of pregnancy, positive linear relationships between maternal glucose levels and offspring FM and FM% were observed, independent of prepregnancy BMI. An inverse relationship was detected between high-density lipoprotein in the first half of pregnancy and FM, independent of prepregnancy BMI. Free fatty acid levels in the second half of pregnancy were positively associated with higher birth weight, independent of prepregnancy BMI.ConclusionMaternal insulin resistance in the first half of pregnancy is highly predictive of neonatal FM%, whereas maternal glycemia, even within the normal range, is an important driver of neonatal adiposity in later pregnancy, independent of prepregnancy BMI. Our data provide additional insights on potential maternal factors responsible for fetal fat accretion and early development of adiposity.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Consistent evidence of an influence of maternal dietary intake during pregnancy on infant body size and composition in human populations is lacking, despite robust evidence in animal models. OBJECTIVE:We sought to evaluate the influence of maternal macronutrient intake and balance during pregnancy on neonatal body size and composition, including fat mass and fat-free mass. STUDY DESIGN:The analysis was conducted among 1040 mother-offspring pairs enrolled in the prospective prebirth observational cohort: the Healthy Start Study. Diet during pregnancy was collected using repeated 24-hour dietary recalls (up to 8). Direct measures of body composition were obtained using air displacement plethysmography. The National Cancer Institute measurement error model was used to estimate usual dietary intake during pregnancy. Multivariable partition (nonisocaloric) and nutrient density (isocaloric) linear regression models were used to test the associations between maternal dietary intake and neonatal body composition. RESULTS:The median macronutrient composition during pregnancy was 32.2% from fat, 15.0% from protein, and 47.8% from carbohydrates. In the partition multivariate regression model, individual macronutrient intake values were not associated with birthweight or fat-free mass, but were associated with fat mass. Respectively, 418 kJ increases in total fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and total carbohydrates were associated with 4.2-g (P = .03), 11.1-g (P = .003), 5.9-g (P = .04), and 2.9-g (P = .02) increases in neonatal fat mass, independent of prepregnancy body mass index. In the nutrient density multivariate regression model, macronutrient balance was not associated with fat mass, fat-free mass, or birthweight after adjustment for prepregnancy body mass index. CONCLUSION:Neonatal adiposity, but not birthweight, is independently associated with increased maternal intake of total fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and total carbohydrates, but not protein, suggesting that most forms of increased caloric intake contribute to fetal fat accretion.

Project description:BackgroundPrevious studies have modeled the association between fetal exposure to tobacco smoke and body mass index (BMI) growth trajectories, but not the timing of catch-up growth. Research on fetal exposure to maternal secondhand smoking is limited.ObjectivesTo explore the associations between fetal exposure to maternal active and secondhand smoking with body composition at birth and BMI growth trajectories through age 3 years.MethodsWe followed 630 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Healthy Start cohort through age 3 years. Maternal urinary cotinine was measured at ~ 27 weeks gestation. Neonatal body composition was measured using air displacement plethysmography. Child weight and length/height were abstracted from medical records. Linear regression models examined the association between cotinine categories (no exposure, secondhand smoke, active smoking) with weight, fat mass, fat-free mass, and percent fat mass at birth. A mixed-effects regression model estimated the association between cotinine categories and BMI.ResultsCompared to unexposed offspring, birth weight was significantly lower among offspring born to active smokers (-343-g; 95% CI: -473, -213), but not among offspring of women exposed to secondhand smoke (-47-g; 95% CI: -130, 36). There was no significant difference in the rate of BMI growth over time between offspring of active and secondhand smokers (p = 0.58). Therefore, our final model included a single growth rate parameter for the combined exposure groups of active and secondhand smokers. The rate of BMI growth for the combined exposed group was significantly more rapid (0.27 kg/m2 per year; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.69; p < 0.01) than the unexposed.ConclusionsOffspring prenatally exposed to maternal active or secondhand smoking experience rapid and similar BMI growth in the first three years of life. Given the long-term consequences of rapid weight gain in early childhood, it is important to encourage pregnant women to quit smoking and limit their exposure to secondhand smoke.

Project description:BackgroundAllergic diseases in children are increasing. Although maternal diet quality in pregnancy may be protective, it is unclear which measure of maternal diet best predicts offspring diseases.ObjectiveTo examine the associations between multiple diet measures and allergy outcomes, and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the measures for the prediction of allergy outcomes.MethodsMaternal diet during pregnancy was measured using a validated instrument, and scored using 5 measures: the maternal diet index (MDI), Healthy Eating Index, total diet diversity, healthy diet diversity, and unhealthy diet diversity. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models assessed associations between maternal diet measures and offspring allergy outcomes up to age 4 years. The diagnostic accuracy of the diet measures was compared.ResultsThere were significant associations between MDI (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.87), Healthy Eating Index (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99), and healthy diet diversity scores (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.98) during pregnancy and the primary combined outcome "any allergy excluding wheeze" in children up to age 4 years. Neither maternal total diet diversity (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95-1.03) nor unhealthy diet diversity scores (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.98-1.13) were associated with the "any allergy excluding wheeze" outcome. For all outcomes studied, except for food allergy, there was a significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy between the 5 measures of maternal diet. The area under the curve for MDI was highest for every disease outcome, although not always significantly higher.ConclusionsBetter quality and higher diversity of a woman's diet during pregnancy, measured in various ways, is associated with offspring allergy outcomes, with healthy foods associated with decreased risk, and unhealthy foods associated with a higher risk. The MDI, which appropriately weighted both healthy and unhealthy foods, best predicted childhood allergic disease.

Project description:BackgroundInfant feeding patterns have been linked with obesity risk in childhood, but associations with precise measures of body fat distribution are unclear.ObjectiveWe examined associations of infant feeding practices with abdominal fat and hepatic fat trajectories in childhood.MethodsThis study included 356 children in the Healthy Start Study, a prospective prebirth cohort in Colorado. Infant feeding practices were assessed by postnatal interviews and categorized as any human milk <6 mo compared with ≥6 mo; complementary foods introduced ≤4 mo compared with >4 mo; soda introduced ≤18 mo compared with >18 mo. Abdominal subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) areas and hepatic fat (%) were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in early and middle childhood (median 5 and 9 y old, respectively). We examined associations of infant feeding with adiposity trajectories across childhood using linear mixed models.ResultsIn the sample of children, 67% consumed human milk ≥6 mo, 75% were introduced to complementary foods at >4 mo, and 81% were introduced to soda at >18 mo. We did not find any associations between duration of any human milk consumption and childhood adiposity trajectories. Early introduction to complementary foods (≤4 mo) was associated with faster rates of change for SAT and VAT during childhood (Slope [95% CI]: 15.1 [10.7,19.4] cm2/y for SAT; 2.5 [1.9,2.9] cm2/y for VAT), compared with introduction at >4 mo (5.5 [3.0,8.0] cm2/y and 1.6 [1.3,1.9] cm2/y, respectively). Similarly, early introduction to soda (≤18 mo) was associated with faster rates of change for all 3 outcomes during childhood (Slope [95% CI]: 20.6 [15.0,26.1] cm2/y for SAT, 2.7 [2.0,3.3] cm2/y for VAT, 0.3 [0.1,0.5] %/year for hepatic fat) compared with delayed introduction (5.4 [2.8,8.0] cm2/y, 1.7 [1.3, 2.0] cm2/y, -0.1 [-0.2,0.0] %/y, respectively).ConclusionsThe timing of introduction and quality of complementary foods in infancy was associated with rates of abdominal and hepatic fat accrual during childhood. Experimental studies are needed to assess underlying mechanisms.

Dataset Information

Exposure to maternal fuels during pregnancy and offspring hepatic fat in early childhood: The healthy start study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Exposure to maternal fuels during pregnancy and offspring hepatic fat in early childhood: The healthy start study.

Similar Datasets

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