Associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and fatigue in pregnant women

Abstract

Background Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms among pregnant women. In patients with various diseases, pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with fatigue; however, such associations are unknown in pregnant women. Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and prenatal fatigue. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 271 pregnant Chinese women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was used to evaluate women’s prenatal fatigue. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the serum concentrations of four pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), were measured. The data was analyzed by correlation analysis and general linear regression analysis. Results In this sample, the mean (standard deviation) of fatigue scores was 51.94 (10.79). TNF-α (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.134, p = 0.027) and IL-8 (r = 0.209, p = 0.001) were positively correlated to prenatal fatigue, although IL-1β was not. TNF-α (β = 0.263, p < 0.001), along with sleep quality (β = 0.27, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.376, p < 0.001) independently predicted prenatal fatigue. Conclusions TNF-α was identified as an independent biomarker for prenatal fatigue in our study. Reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a unique method for lowering prenatal fatigue and, consequently, enhancing mother and child health.

Selenium Intake and Postnatal Depression—A Short Review

“…In postnatal depression, an anti-inflammatory effect might also be of particular relevance, given that notable changes in serum proinflammatory mediators are observed during pregnancy and the postpartum period [ 82 ]. The concentration of TNF-α was found to be elevated in peripheral blood during the entire gestation period [ 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ], whereas IL-6 and IL-8 levels were observed to increase from the second to the third trimester [ 86 , 87 ]. Christian et al reported increases in the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β at 4–6 weeks postpartum compared to those in the third trimester of pregnancy [ 88 ].…”