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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024The placenta undergoes morphological and functional adaptations to adverse exposures during pregnancy. The effects ofsuboptimal maternal body mass index (BMI), preterm...
Gestational Age, Infection, and Suboptimal Maternal Prepregnancy BMI Independently Associate with Placental Histopathology in a Cohort of Pregnancies without Major Maternal Comorbidities.
The placenta undergoes morphological and functional adaptations to adverse exposures during pregnancy. The effects ofsuboptimal maternal body mass index (BMI), preterm birth, and infection on placental histopathological phenotypes are not yet well understood, despite the association between these conditions and poor offspring outcomes. We hypothesized that suboptimal maternal prepregnancy BMI and preterm birth (with and without infection) would associate with altered placental maturity and morphometry, and that altered placental maturity would associate with poor birth outcomes. Clinical data and human placentae were collected from 96 pregnancies where mothers were underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese, without other major complications. Placental histopathological characteristics were scored by an anatomical pathologist. Associations between maternal BMI, placental pathology (immaturity and hypermaturity), placental morphometry, and infant outcomes were investigated for term and preterm births with and without infection. : Fetal capillary volumetric proportion was decreased, whereas the villous stromal volumetric proportion was increased in placentae from preterm pregnancies with chorioamnionitis compared to preterm placentae without chorioamnionitis. At term and preterm, pregnancies with maternal overweight and obesity had a high percentage increase in proportion of immature placentae compared to normal weight. Placental maturity did not associate with infant birth outcomes. We observed placental hypermaturity and altered placental morphometry among preterm pregnancies with chorioamnionitis, suggestive of altered placental development, which may inform about pregnancies susceptible to preterm birth and infection. : Our data increase our understanding of how common metabolic exposures and preterm birth, in the absence of other comorbidities or complications, potentially contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes and developmental programming.
PubMed: 38929907
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123378 -
Genes Jun 2024Infant consumption of human milk (HM) is associated with a reduced risk of overweight and obesity, but the reasons for this relationship are not completely understood....
Infant consumption of human milk (HM) is associated with a reduced risk of overweight and obesity, but the reasons for this relationship are not completely understood. There is emerging evidence that micro RNAs (miRNAs) regulate infant development and metabolism, but the associations between HM miRNAs and infant growth remain poorly understood. We examined the relationship between HM miRNA consumption and infant obesity in 163 mother-infant dyads to determine (1) if miRNA profiles differentiate infants with obesity, and (2) if individual miRNAs accurately predicted infant obesity status at one year of age. Infant obesity was categorized as weight-for-length (WFL) Z scores or conditional weight gain (CWG) in the 95th percentile. HM miRNA profile was associated with infant age (r = 6.4%, = 0.001), but not maternal obesity status (r = 1.5%, = 0.87) or infant weight status (WFL Z-score) at birth (r = 0.6%, = 0.4), 1 month (r = 0.5%, = 0.6), or 4 months (r = 0.8%, = 0.2). Nine HM miRNAs were associated with either 12-month CWG or 12-month WFL Z scores. Among these 9 miRNAs, miR-224-5p remained significant in a logistic regression model that accounted for additional demographic factors (estimate = -27.57, = 0.004). These findings suggest involvement of HM miRNAs and particularly miR-224-5p in infant growth, warranting further investigation. To our knowledge, this is the largest study of HM miRNAs and early-life obesity and contributes to the understanding of the relationship between HM miRNAs and infant growth.
Topics: Humans; Milk, Human; Female; MicroRNAs; Infant; Male; Adult; Infant, Newborn; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity; Breast Feeding
PubMed: 38927748
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060813 -
Biology May 2024Maternal obesity is a well-established risk factor for offspring obesity development. The relationship between maternal and offspring obesity is mediated in part by...
Maternal obesity is a well-established risk factor for offspring obesity development. The relationship between maternal and offspring obesity is mediated in part by developmental programming of offspring metabolic circuitry, including hypothalamic signaling. Dysregulated hypothalamic inflammation has also been linked to development of obesity. We utilized an established C57Bl/6J mouse model of high-fat, high-sugar diet induced maternal obesity to evaluate the effect of maternal obesity on systemic and hypothalamic TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in neonatal and adult offspring. The offspring of dams with obesity demonstrated increased adiposity and decreased activity compared to control offspring. Maternal obesity was associated with decreased plasma TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in adult female offspring and decreased plasma IL-6 in neonatal male offspring. Neonatal female offspring of obese dams had decreased TNF-α gene expression in the hypothalamus compared to control females, while neonatal and adult male offspring of obese dams had decreased IL-6 gene expression in the hypothalamus compared to control males. In summary, our results highlight important sex differences in the inflammatory phenotype of offspring exposed to maternal obesity. Sex-specific immunomodulatory mechanisms should be considered in future efforts to develop therapeutic interventions for obesity prevention and treatment.
PubMed: 38927279
DOI: 10.3390/biology13060399 -
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology... Jun 2024Previous studies of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during pregnancy have controversial and contrasting results on the short and long-term effects on...
BACKGROUND
Previous studies of maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during pregnancy have controversial and contrasting results on the short and long-term effects on early child growth. The impact of this nutritional intervention on the postnatal growth patterns in the offspring of women with pregestational overweight/obesity (PGO) also remains controversial.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the postnatal growth patterns during the first 4 months of life in the offspring of women with PGO randomly supplemented with 800 mg/day (PGO-800) compared with normative doses of 200 mg/day (PGO-200) of DHA during pregnancy (<15 weeks of gestation until delivery).
METHODS
This study evaluated the growth patterns during the first 4 months of life of 169 infants of the women that participated in the MIGHT study (NCT02574767). We included the infants of women from the PGO-200 (n = 81) and PGO-800 group (n = 88). The growth patterns (weight, length, and head circumference) and change in z-score (WHO charts) were evaluated.
RESULTS
Throughout the first 4 months of life, the infants of the PGO-800 group had lower weight-for-length z-score (coef. -0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.07, -0.22, p = 0.003) and lower body mass index-for-age z-score (coef. -0.56, 95% CI -0.99, -0.12, p = 0.012) compared with the PGO-200 group adjusted by maternal body mass index, gestational weight gain, gestational age, insulin in cord blood and infant feeding (exclusive breastfed, not breastfed, and partially breastfed).
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal supplementation with DHA during pregnancy could beneficially limit the offspring's postnatal weight gain during the first 4 months of life.
PubMed: 38922906
DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.12294 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The benefits of breastfeeding for the health and wellbeing of both infants and mothers are well documented, yet global breastfeeding rates are low. One factor associated...
The benefits of breastfeeding for the health and wellbeing of both infants and mothers are well documented, yet global breastfeeding rates are low. One factor associated with low breast feeding is maternal body mass index (BMI), which is used as a measure of obesity. The negative relationship between maternal obesity and breastfeeding is likely caused by a variety of social, psychological, and physiological factors. Maternal obesity may also have a direct biological association with breastfeeding through changes in maternal DNA methylation. Here, we investigate this potential biological association using data from a UK-based cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). We find that pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with lower initiation to breastfeed and shorter breastfeeding duration. We conduct epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of pre-pregnancy BMI and breastfeeding outcomes, and run candidate-gene analysis of methylation sites associated with BMI identified via previous meta-EWAS. We find that DNA methylation at cg11453712, annotated to PHTP1, is associated with pre-pregnancy BMI. From our results, neither this association nor those at candidate-gene sites are likely to mediate the link between pre-pregnancy BMI and breastfeeding.
Topics: Humans; DNA Methylation; Breast Feeding; Body Mass Index; Female; Pregnancy; Adult; Longitudinal Studies; Genome-Wide Association Study; United Kingdom; Obesity; Epigenesis, Genetic
PubMed: 38918574
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65605-0 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) promote adequate intestinal microbiota development and favor the immune system's maturation and cognitive development. In addition to...
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) promote adequate intestinal microbiota development and favor the immune system's maturation and cognitive development. In addition to non-modifiable factors, HMOs composition can be influenced by other factors like body mass index and eating habits, but the reports are discrepant. The aim of this work was to describe the correlation between maternal factors and HMOs concentration in colostrum in 70 women from northeastern Mexico categorized into women with normal weight and women with overweight or obesity. The absolute concentration of six HMOs were significantly lower in women with overweight or obesity compared to women with normal weight (LNFPI p = 0.0021, 2'-FL p = 0.0304, LNT p = 0.0492, LNnT p = 0.00026, 3'-SL p = 0.0476, 6'-SL p = 0.00041). Another main finding was that the frequency of consumption of food groups such as vegetables, fruits and meats was positively correlated to specific HMOs (Poblano chili and 2'-FL; r = 0.702, p = 0.0012; Orange or tangerine and 3-FL; r = 0.428, p = 0.0022; Chicken and 2'-FL; r = 0.615, p = 0.0039). This study contributes to the elucidation of how maternal factors influence the composition of HMOs and opens possibilities for future research aimed at mitigating overweight or obesity, consequently improving the quality of human milk.
Topics: Humans; Milk, Human; Female; Mexico; Oligosaccharides; Adult; Breast Feeding; Feeding Behavior; Obesity; Body Mass Index; Colostrum; Overweight; Young Adult
PubMed: 38918476
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63787-1 -
American Journal of Epidemiology Jun 2024Recent studies have suggested that adverse outcomes of postterm birth (≥42 completed weeks of gestation), including increased cardiometabolic risk factors, impaired...
Recent studies have suggested that adverse outcomes of postterm birth (≥42 completed weeks of gestation), including increased cardiometabolic risk factors, impaired glucose metabolism, and obesity, may extend into adulthood. We studied interconnected determinants of cardiovascular health, including physical activity (based on accelerometry for two weeks), muscular strength (handgrip strength), cardiorespiratory fitness (4-min step test), and cardiac autonomic function (heart rate recovery, heart rate variability, and baroreflex sensitivity) among 46-year-old adults from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC) born postterm (n = 805) and at term (n = 2,645). Adults born postterm undertook vigorous-intensity physical activity 2.0 min/day (95% CI 0.4, 3.7) less than term-born adults when adjusted for sex, age, and maternal- and pregnancy-related covariates in multiple linear regression. Postterm birth was associated with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness based on a higher peak heart rate (2.1 bpm, 95% CI 0.9, 3.4) and slower heart rate recovery 30 s after the step test (-0.7 bpm, 95% CI -1.3, -0.1). Postterm birth was associated with lower vigorous-intensity physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness and slower heart rate recovery in middle age. Our findings reinforce previous suggestions that postterm birth should be included as a perinatal risk factor for adult cardiometabolic disease.
PubMed: 38918030
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwae150 -
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine :... Jun 2024To investigate the association between maternal early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and offspring sleep apnea diagnosis.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
To investigate the association between maternal early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and offspring sleep apnea diagnosis.
METHODS
We conducted a nationwide cohort study among 3,281,803 singleton live births in Sweden born 1983-2015. Using national registers with prospectively recorded information, we followed participants for a sleep apnea diagnosis from 2 to up to 35 years of age. We compared sleep apnea risks by early pregnancy BMI categories using hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) from adjusted Cox models. To address confounding by factors shared within families, we conducted sibling-controlled analyses and studied the relation of siblings' maternal BMI with index offspring's sleep apnea risk.
RESULTS
There were 17,830 sleep apnea diagnoses. Maternal early pregnancy BMI was positively associated with offspring sleep apnea risk; compared with women with normal BMI (18.5-24.9), adjusted HR (95% CI) of offspring sleep apnea for maternal BMI categories 25.0-29.9 (overweight), 30.0-34.9 (obesity class I), and ≥35.0 (obesity class II or III) were, respectively, 1.14 (1.09, 1.19), 1.28 (1.20, 1.36), and 1.40 (1.27, 1.54). Corresponding HR from sibling-controlled analyses representing risk change for maternal BMI differences between pregnancies were, respectively, 1.13 (1.01, 1.26), 1.17 (0.97, 1.42), and 1.32 (0.97, 1.80). HR by siblings' maternal BMI were attenuated, suggesting a weak role for shared familial factors. Other pregnancy, birth, and neonatal complications were associated with offspring sleep apnea risk, but did not substantially mediate the association with maternal obesity.
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal overweight and obesity are associated with offspring sleep apnea risk in a dose-response manner.
PubMed: 38916278
DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.11228 -
Congenital Heart Disease 2024Given the pervasive issues of obesity and diabetes both in Puerto Rico and the broader United States, there is a compelling need to investigate the intricate interplay...
BACKGROUND
Given the pervasive issues of obesity and diabetes both in Puerto Rico and the broader United States, there is a compelling need to investigate the intricate interplay among BMI, pregestational, and gestational maternal diabetes, and their potential impact on the occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHD) during neonatal development.
METHODS
Using the comprehensive System of Vigilance and Surveillance of Congenital Defects in Puerto Rico, we conducted a focused analysis on neonates diagnosed with CHD between 2016 and 2020. Our assessment encompassed a range of variables, including maternal age, gestational age, BMI, pregestational diabetes, gestational diabetes, hypertension, history of abortion, and presence of preeclampsia.
RESULTS
A cohort of 673 patients was included in our study. The average maternal age was 26 years, within a range of 22 to 32 years. The mean gestational age measured 39 weeks, with a median span of 38 to 39 weeks. Of the 673 patients, 274 (41%) mothers gave birth to neonates diagnosed with CHD. Within this group, 22 cases were linked to pre-gestational diabetes, while 202 were not; 20 instances were associated with gestational diabetes, compared to 200 without; and 148 cases exhibited an overweight or obese BMI, whereas 126 displayed a normal BMI.
CONCLUSION
We identified a statistically significant correlation between pre-gestational diabetes mellitus and the occurrence of CHD. However, our analysis did not show a statistically significant association between maternal BMI and the likelihood of CHD. These results may aid in developing effective strategies to prevent and manage CHD in neonates.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Puerto Rico; Infant, Newborn; Heart Defects, Congenital; Adult; Risk Factors; Maternal Health; Young Adult; Diabetes, Gestational; Body Mass Index; Gestational Age; Retrospective Studies; Incidence; Male; Maternal Age
PubMed: 38912385
DOI: 10.32604/chd.2024.046339 -
Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) May 2024This paper explores global COVID-19 treatment and containment strategies in 108 countries worldwide, specifically the correlation between COVID-19 deaths and the... (Review)
Review
This paper explores global COVID-19 treatment and containment strategies in 108 countries worldwide, specifically the correlation between COVID-19 deaths and the countries' vaccination rates. Comparison of data across states, provinces, territories, and countries relied upon a common method to evaluate data regarding the impact of COVID-19 policies in the last three years. Data from nine different databases were analyzed to determine if there were correlations between the percentage of countrywide COVID-19 deaths/population and countries' percent vaccinated. Secondary outcome measures include the effect of other variables on COVID-19 death rates per country population, including health expenditures and annual income per capita, COVID-19 tests per 1000 people, stringency index (a measure of each country's containment strategies), hydroxychloroquine/ivermectin scores (measure country use), hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and geographic locations. COVID-19 vaccination rates ranged from 0-99% in 108 countries. Bivariate analysis demonstrates the following independent variables to correlate with COVID-19 deaths/population (Spearman correlation coefficient, p value): countrywide COVID-19 vaccination rates (moderate relationship, r=0.39, < .001); healthcare expenditures per capita per annum (US dollars) (moderate relationship, r=0.46, < .001), net annual income per capita (moderate relationship, r=0.50, < .001), COVID-19 tests per 1000 country population (moderate relationship, r=0.36, < .003); stringency index per country (moderate relationship, r=0.28, < .003); hydroxychloroquine index (negative relationship, r= 0.15, = .125); and ivermectin index (negative relationship, r=0.23 = .018). The authors found that the higher the percentage of a country's vaccination rate, stringent containment strategies, mass testing, etc., moderately correlated with higher COVID-19 death rates/population. Future studies are required to explore the findings of this study fully.
PubMed: 38911447
DOI: No ID Found