Longitudinal variance of visceral fat thickness in pregnant adolescents

Background Excessive gestational weight gain has been associated with increased total body fat (TBF), metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity. However, little is known about the relationship of gestational weight gain with changes in metabolically active visceral or ectopic (hepatic and skeletal muscle) lipid stores. Objectives In a prospective study of 50 healthy pregnant women, we assessed whether changes in weight were associated with changes in total, visceral, and ectopic lipid stores. Methods Participants (ages 19–39) were primarily White (84%). Mean preconception body mass index (BMI) was 25.8 (SD = 4.5) kg/m2 (min-max 17.1–35.9). Measurements were completed at a mean of 16 and 34 weeks gestation and included TBF using BOD POD, subcutaneous abdominal and visceral adipose tissue (SAT, VAT) using magnetic resonance imaging, and intrahepatic lipids (IHL) and intra- and extramyocellular lipids (IMCL, EMCL) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We used paired t-tests to examine change in adipose tissue and Pearson's correlation to examine associations of adipose tissue change and weight change. We also examined whether changes in adipose tissue stores differed by preconception BMI (normal, overweight and obese) using one-way analysis of variance. Results TBF (mean change [95%CI], +3.5 kg, [2.4, 4.6]), SAT (+701 [421, 981] cm3), VAT + 275 [170, 379] cm3) and IHL (%water peak, median [IQR] + 0.15 [0.33]) increased significantly; IMCL and EMCL did not change. Changes varied by BMI strata, with the least increase (or, for SAT, net loss) among women with obesity. Weight change was positively correlated with change in TBF (r = .83, P < 0.001), SAT (r = .74, P < 0.001), and VAT (r = .63, P < 0.001) but not significantly correlated with change in ectopic lipids (IHL, IMCL, EMCL, –.14 < r < .26). Conclusions Preferential deposition of adipose tissue to the viscera in pregnancy, as seen in our sample, could serve an important metabolic function; however, excessive deposition in this region could negatively affect maternal health.

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Changes in Visceral and Ectopic Adipose Tissue Stores Across Pregnancy and Their Relationship to Gestational Weight Gain

Vesco

Marshall²,

Baetscher³

et al. 2022

The Journal of Nutrition

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Maternal Adipose Tissue Expansion, A Missing Link in the Prediction of Birth Weight Centile

Jarvie

Stewart

Ramsay

et al. 2019

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &Amp; Metabolism

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Context Maternal body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased birth weight but does not explain all the variance in fetal adiposity. Objective To assess the contribution of maternal body fat distribution to offspring birth weight and adiposity. Design Longitudinal study throughout gestation and at delivery. Setting Women recruited at 12 weeks of gestation and followed up at 26 and 36 weeks. Cord blood was collected at delivery. Patients Pregnant women (n = 45) with BMI 18.0 to 46.3 kg/m2 and healthy pregnancy outcome. Methods Maternal first trimester abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue thickness (SAT and VAT) was assessed by ultrasound. Main Outcome Measures Maternal body fat distribution, maternal and cord plasma glucose and lipid concentrations, placental weight, birth weight, and fetal adiposity assessed by cord blood leptin. Results VAT was the only anthropometric measure independently associated with birth weight centile (r2 adjusted 15.8%, P = .002). BMI was associated with trimester 2 and trimesters 1 through 3 area under the curve (AUC) glucose and insulin resistance (Homeostatic Model Assessment). SAT alone predicted trimester 2 lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mass (a marker of adipocyte insulin sensitivity) (11.3%, P = .017). VAT was associated with fetal triglyceride (9.3%, P = .047). Placental weight was the only independent predictor of fetal adiposity (48%, P < .001). Maternal trimester 2 and AUC LPL were inversely associated with fetal adiposity (r = -0.69, P = .001 and r = -0.58, P = .006, respectively). Conclusions Maternal VAT provides additional information to BMI for prediction of birth weight. VAT may be a marker of reduced SAT expansion and increased availability of maternal fatty acids for placental transport.

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Longitudinal variance of visceral fat thickness in pregnant adolescents

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

Changes in Visceral and Ectopic Adipose Tissue Stores Across Pregnancy and Their Relationship to Gestational Weight Gain

Changes in Visceral and Ectopic Adipose Tissue Stores Across Pregnancy and Their Relationship to Gestational Weight Gain

Maternal Adipose Tissue Expansion, A Missing Link in the Prediction of Birth Weight Centile

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