Association of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Offspring Weight Status Across Infancy: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study in China

Abstract

Background: The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and childhood body weight remains controversial, and additional study is needed, especially in Asian populations.Methods: This prospective study investigated the association between maternal glucose concentration, and GDM status and infant body weight from birth to 12 months of age. Linear mixed effects (LME) models and multiple linear regression were used to assess the longitudinal association of GDM with infant growth measured by weight-for-length (WFLZ), weight-for-age (WFAZ), and length-for-age (LFAZ) z-scores at birth, 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months of age.Results: Offspring born to mothers with GDM had higher WFLZ [β: 0.26 SD units (95% CI: 0.13–0.40)] across infancy than those of mothers without GDM. The association was more pronounced in normal-weight and overweight/obese women (P for interaction< 0.05). Multiple linear regression found that the effect estimate of GDM on infant WFLZ was highest at birth [β: 0.32 SD units (95% CI: 0.07– 0.57)], remained significant at 1 [β: 0.24 SD units (95% CI: 0.05–0.43)] and 3 [β:0.20 SD units (95% CI: 0.01–0.39)] months of age and decreased across infancy. Maternal GDM status were not associated with infant WFAZ or LFAZ.Conclusions: Maternal GDM status were associated with infant weight status, the association was more pronounced in normal-weight and overweight/obese women. The study results may contribute to the development interventions to prevent childhood obesity and to better define the target population.