Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Pregnancy: An Exploratory Study on Oxidative Stress Markers in the Placenta of Women with Obesity

Abstract

Regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and reduced sedentary time (ST) improve maternal glucose metabolism in pregnancy. More MVPA and less ST outside pregnancy increase antioxidant capacity, hence, are beneficial in preventing oxidative stress. The placenta is the first line of defense for the fetus from an adverse maternal environment, including oxidative stress. However, effects of MVPA and ST on oxidative stress markers in the placenta are unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of MVPA and ST in pregnancy with oxidative stress markers in placentas of overweight/obese women (BMI ≥ 29 kg/m2). MVPA and ST were objectively measured with accelerometers at <20 weeks, 24–27 and 35–37 weeks of gestation. Using linear Bayesian multilevel models, the associations of MVPA and ST (mean and changes) with mRNA expression of a panel of 11 oxidative stress related markers were assessed in 96 women. MVPA was negatively correlated with HSP70 mRNA expression in a sex-independent manner and with GCLM expression only in placentas of female fetuses. ST was positively associated with HO-1 mRNA expression in placentas of male neonates. None of the other markers were associated with MVPA or ST. We speculate that increasing MVPA and reducing ST attenuates the oxidative stress state in placentas of obese pregnant women.

The Association of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Maternal and Cord Blood Anti-Oxidative Capacity and HDL Functionality: Findings of DALI Study

“…Physical activity is important to mitigate this negative effect of obesity. We recently reported that increasing MVPA and reducing ST attenuate the oxidative stress state in the placentas of obese pregnant women [ 19 ]. In the present study, we observed that MVPA is associated with higher antioxidant capacity in cord blood.…”

“…As previously described [ 19 ], physical activity was measured objectively by accelerometers (ActiGraph GT1M, GT3X+ or Actitrainer; Pensacola, FL, USA) at <20 weeks, 24–28 weeks, and 35–37 weeks. A minimum of three valid full day measurements per time-period, with a daily wear time of more than 480 min, were needed to be included in the analysis.…”