Maternal lipid levels during pregnancy and child weight status at 3 years of age

Chantel L Martin, Catherine J Vladutiu, Tarek M Zikry, Matthew R Grace, Anna Maria Siega-Riz

Abstract:

Background:
The intrauterine environment is critical in the development of child obesity.

Objective:
To investigate the association between maternal lipid levels during pregnancy and child weight status.

Methods:
Maternal lipid levels (total cholesterol, high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides) collected from fasting blood samples collected at <20 and 24–29 weeks’ gestation and child weight status at age 3 were examined prospectively among 183 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition study. Measured height and weight at 3 years were used to calculate age- and sex-specific body mass index z-scores. Child risk of overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index ≥85th percentile for age and sex. Regression models estimated the association between maternal lipid levels and child body mass index z-score and risk of being affected by overweight/obesity, respectively.

Results:
Higher triglyceride levels at <20 and 24–29 weeks of pregnancy were associated with higher body mass index z-scores (β=0.23; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.38 and β=0.15; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.29; respectively), after adjusting for confounders. There was no evidence of an association between total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and child weight status at age 3.

Conclusions:
Early childhood body mass index may be influenced by maternal triglyceride levels during pregnancy.