Macronutrient intake during pregnancy in women with a history of obesity or gestational diabetes and offspring adiposity at 5 years of age

Abstract

Background/objectives The impact of maternal macronutrient intake during pregnancy on offspring childhood adiposity is unclear. We assessed the associations between maternal macronutrient intake during and after pregnancy with offspring adiposity at 5 years of age. Additionally, we investigated whether gestational diabetes (GDM), BMI, or breastfeeding modified these associations. Subjects/methods Altogether, 301 mother–child dyads with maternal prepregnancy BMI ≥ 30 and/or previous GDM participated in the Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL) and its 5 years follow-up. Macronutrient intakes (E%) were calculated from 3-day food records collected at 5–18 weeks’ gestation, in the third trimester, and at 12 months and 5 years after pregnancy. Offspring body fat mass (BFM) and fat percentage (BF%) at 5 years were measured by bioimpedance. Statistical analyses were multivariate linear regression. Results Mean (SD) prepregnancy BMI was 33(4) kg/m2. GDM was diagnosed in 47%. In normoglycemic women, higher first half of pregnancy n-3 PUFA intake was associated with lower offspring BFM (g) (ß −0.90; 95% CI −1.62, −0.18) and BF% (ß −3.45; 95% CI −6.17, −0.72). In women with GDM, higher first half of pregnancy n-3 PUFA intake was associated with higher offspring BFM (ß 0.94; 95% CI 0.14, 1.75) and BF% (ß 3.21; 95% CI 0.43, 5.99). Higher SFA intake in the third trimester and cumulative intake across pregnancy (mean of the first half and late pregnancy) was associated with higher BFM and BF% (across pregnancy: ß 0.12; 95% CI 0.03, 0.20 and ß 0.44; 95% CI 0.15, 0.73, respectively). Higher carbohydrate intake across pregnancy was associated with lower BFM (ß −0.044; 95% CI −0.086, −0.003), and borderline associated with BF% (ß −0.15; 95% CI −0.31, 0.00). Conclusions The macronutrient composition of maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with offspring BFM and BF% at 5 years. GDM modifies the association between prenatal n-3 PUFA intake and offspring anthropometrics.

Glycemic control in women with GDM: Insights from a randomized controlled pilot trial on plant-based Nordic Healthy diet versus moderately carbohydrate restricted diet

“…Potential adverse results on offspring outcomes related to fat intake of GDM mothers may be associated with the quality of fat, i.e. the proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the diet instead of the total amount of fat (52). Fetal exposure to higher circulating levels of free fatty acids has been found to be associated with the increased risk of proportionally higher adiposity of the offspring of GDM women (20-22, 50, 52).…”

Early ascending growth is associated with maternal lipoprotein profile during mid and late pregnancy and in cord blood

“…In our study pregnancies leading to adverse offspring growth showed lower mean levels of several unsaturated fatty acids in the 3rd trimester. Fatty acids are strongly correlated with dietary intake and interestingly we have previously shown that maternal dietary n-3 PUFA intake during pregnancy was associated with offspring adiposity at 5 years of age [ 43 ]. This has been investigated also in a RCT, where omega-3 supplementation for women with obesity improved fetal growth in lean mass and longer gestation [ 44 ].…”