Associations of maternal prenatal smoking with umbilical cord blood hormones: the Project Viva cohort

Abstract

Background Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with low fetal growth and adverse cardiometabolic health in offspring. However, hormonal pathways underlying these associations are unclear. Therefore, we examined maternal smoking habits and umbilical cord blood hormone profiles in a large, prospective cohort. Methods We studied 978 mother/infant pairs in Project Viva, a Boston-area cohort recruited 1999–2002. We categorized mothers as early pregnancy smokers, former smokers, or never smokers. Outcomes were cord blood concentrations of IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-3, leptin, adiponectin, insulin, and C-peptide. We used linear regression models adjusted for maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, parity, education, and infant sex. We conducted analyses in the full cohort and stratified by infant sex. Results Thirteen percent of women were early pregnancy smokers, 20% former smokers, and 68% never smokers. Infants of early pregnancy smokers had lower IGF-1 adjusted for IGFBP-3 [−5.2 ng/mL (95% CI: −8.6, −1.7)], with more pronounced associations in girls [−10.7 ng/mL (95% CI: −18.5, −2.9) vs. −4.0 ng/mL (95% CI: −8.4, 0.4) for boys]. Early pregnancy smoking was not associated with cord blood hormones other than IGF-1. Infants of former smokers had a cord blood hormone profile similar to infants of never smokers. Conclusions As compared to mothers who never smoked, early pregnancy smokers had infants with lower cord blood IGF-1 which could prime adverse metabolic outcomes. This provides further reason to support smoking cessation programs in women of reproductive age.

Cumulative exposure to environmental pollutants during early pregnancy and reduced fetal growth: the Project Viva cohort

“…Associations between higher prenatal exposures to maternal smoking, air pollution, and PFASs with lower birth size have been previously reported in the Project Viva cohort [ 3 – 5 ] and others [ 6 – 10 ]. In the analytic cohort of the present study, while all three exposures were associated with lower BW/GA, confidence intervals crossed the null for early pregnancy smoking and PFOS exposure.…”

“…Several in utero environmental exposures, many of which are modifiable, are linked to reduced fetal growth. For example, prenatal exposures to cigarette smoke, traffic pollution, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been associated with lower fetal growth in our greater Boston area longitudinal birth cohort, Project Viva [ 3 – 5 ], as well as in other epidemiological studies [ 6 – 10 ]. Cigarette smoke and traffic-related air pollution contain particulate matter (PM), along with hydrocarbons, aldehydes, nitric oxides, and carbon monoxide [ 11 ].…”

Intrauterine smoke exposure deregulates lung function, pulmonary transcriptomes, and in particular insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 in a sex-specific manner

“…In humans, maternal smoking in pregnancy has been associated with lower placental GH and human cord blood IGF-1 protein concentrations 67 . Another study, as well, showed a lower cord blood IGF-1 in infants from mothers who smoked during early pregnancy, with the strongest decline in girls as compared to boys 68 . Similar to our findings in mice, the growth hormone deregulation was more pronounced in females.…”

Are antenatal interventions effective in improving multiple health behaviours among pregnant women? A systematic review protocol.

“…Despite the risks associated with SNAP health behaviours and the guidelines advising pregnant women of recommended health behaviours, the prevalence of SNAP health behaviours in pregnancy is high. Internationally, studies have found that 10-30% of women smoke tobacco during pregnancy (20)(21)(22)(23)(24), 97-100% do not meet all pregnancy food group recommendations (25,26), 20-80% consume alcohol (27,28), and 53-75% do not meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (29)(30)(31). The clustering of SNAP health behaviours is well established in the general population (32,33) and among pregnant women speci cally (34)(35)(36)(37)(38).…”