Maternal lipid profile during early pregnancy and birth weight: A retrospective study

Abstract

IntroductionElevated maternal serum lipid concentrations have been related to an adverse intrauterine environment and lead to abnormal birth weight.ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to explore the association between maternal lipid profiles during early pregnancy and birth weight with stratified pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was based on a large population from two major maternity centers in Shanghai, China. We included 57,516 women with singleton live birth between January 2018 and October 2020. All of the enrolled women had fasting lipid concentrations measured in early pregnancy. The primary outcomes were birth weight and risks of adverse birth outcomes, including macrosomia, large for gestational age (LGA), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA).ResultsHigher maternal concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density cholesterol (LDL-c) in early pregnancy were associated with increased birth weight. Ln transformed TG and levels exhibited a positive association with LGA and macrosomia (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.42 and OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.52) and showed a negative relationship with SGA (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.85). High TG (>75th percentile, 1.67 mmol/L) group also showed higher risks of LGA and macrosomia (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.28 and OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.31) and decreased prevalence of SGA (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.83). Moreover, significant combined effects of pre-pregnancy BMI and lipid profiles on LGA and macrosomia were identified.ConclusionsElevated maternal lipid profiles in early pregnancy are associated with higher birth weight and increased risks of LGA and macrosomia. We propose that serum lipid profiles in early pregnancy and pre-pregnancy BMI could serve as screening indexes for high-risk women.

Lipid profile in women of different ethnicity with gestational diabetes: Relationship with fetal growth

“…Preterm delivery has been associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction 32 , and HDL can exert anti-inflammatory effects by modulating T-cell activation and protecting ApoB lipoprotein from oxidation, contributing to the maintenance of the endothelial function 33 . The absence of a change in HDL cholesterol during gestation can explain the absence of a specific relationship with newborn outcome, in agreement with findings in physiological pregnancy 34 , where no association was found between maternal HDL cholesterol and birthweight or adverse birth outcomes. However, the reduced HDL level found in the early stage of gestation in women with preterm delivery (Figure 2) might have influenced the placental/fetal development, with more pronounced tendency to early delivery, although the level of HDL increased prepartum, possibly as a consequence of dietary standardized intervention.…”

Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the Second Trimester of Gravidity

“…Finally, increased levels of lipids during the second trimester of pregnancy (TC and LDL) play a role in the occurrence of macrosomia, and our findings are therefore in accordance with other published studies [ 19 , 20 ]. Only a few studies found a significantly increased TAG in GDM [ 21 ], but studies have not specifically focused on postpartum persistence of glucose intolerance. Last but not least, the coincidence of MS and GDM increases the risk of a pathological Apgar score during delivery.…”

Association between lipid profile in early pregnancy and the risk of congenital heart disease in offspring: a prospective cohort study

“…The first trimester represents a significant anabolic phase 22 . During this period, lipid profile levels continue to increase to meet the growing physiological requirements of the fetus 7 , 23 , 24 . However, it has been demonstrated that higher concentrations of lipid profile can increase the risk of birth defects in offspring 7 .…”