Gestational obesity and subclinical inflammation: The pathway from simple assessment to complex outcome (STROBE-compliant article).

ABSTRACT: Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with pregnancy-related complications, poor birth outcomes, and increased birth weight (BW).The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between excessive GWG and gestational inflammatory status in terms of blood parameters, as well as its influence on newborn's outcomes.We performed a prospective study on 176 pregnant women divided into 2 groups depending on the GWG: group 1-normal GWG, 80 cases; and group 2-high GWG, 96 cases. The statistical analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism program, trial variant. We performed a thorough anamnesis and clinical examination in all mothers and their newborns, as well as an assessment of multiple laboratory parameters.The levels of both platelets and triglycerides were significantly higher in pregnant women from high GWG group (P = .0165/P = .0247). The newborns whose mothers presented an excessive GWG were found with a significantly higher BW as compared to those with normal GWG mothers (P = .0023). We obtained a positive correlation between the mothers' and newborns' values for hemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein, leucocytes, and platelets/lymphocytes ratio (P = .0002/P = .0313/P = .0137). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between GWG and BW (r = 0.2049, 95% CI: 0.0588-0.3425, P = .0064).Our findings sustain the hypothesis that maternal obesity is a risk factor for macrosomia and childhood obesity since we found a positive correlation between GWG and BW. Women with high GWG expressed significantly higher levels of platelets and triglycerides suggesting a subclinical inflammation associated to excessive fat accumulation. The inflammation transfer from mother to fetus in our study was suggested by the positive correlations between maternal and neonatal leukocytes and platelets/lymphocytes ratio.

Systemic inflammatory status - a bridge between gestational weight gain and neonatal outcomes (STROBE-compliant article).

ABSTRACT: Pregnant women with excessive gestational weight gain express an inflammatory status with multiple negative effects on birth outcomes.The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between gestational weight gain at different gestational ages and inflammatory status in pregnant women and their newborns assessing both interleukin 6 and 8, as well as hepcidin in these couples.Our study included 170 pregnant women and their newborns. Pregnant women were clinically assessed at the end of the 1st trimester and at term, whereas the newborns were assessed over the first 3 days of life. The levels of interleukin 6, 8 and hepcidin were measured in both pregnant women and their newborns.We noticed higher levels of interleukin 6, interleukin 8 and hepcidin in pregnant women at the time of delivery as compared to the end of the 1st trimester. We observed a direct significant correlation between gestational weight gain at the time of delivery and interleukin 8 in both mothers [r = 0.1834, 95% CI: 0.0293-0.3290, (P = .0167)] and newborns [r = 0.1790, 95% CI: 0.0248-0.3249, (P = .0195)]. Our study underlined that a higher gestational weight gain resulted in a significantly higher birth weight [r = 0.2190, 95% CI: 0.0663-0.3617, (P = .0041)].Our findings suggest that interleukin 8 might be an important indicator of inflammatory status in both mothers and newborns. Moreover, excessive gestational weight gain was associated with an increase in birth weight.

Relationships between excessive gestational weight gain and energy and macronutrient intake in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare energy and macronutrient intake, birth weight, and anthropometric parameters (mid-upper arm circumference or tricipital skin-fold thickness) between women who had adequate and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy. METHODS: We studied 115 pregnant women and divided them according to GWG into two groups: adequate GWG (n = 49) and excessive GWG (n = 66). We assessed the medical history, clinical examinations, and dietary habits through a detailed 7-day dietary recall using myfitnesspal software. RESULTS: Weight, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and tricipital skin-fold thickness were significantly higher at the time of delivery in women with excessive GWG compared with those with adequate GWG. A lipid-based diet was a risk factor for excessive GWG (relative risk: 1.488, 95% confidence interval: 1.112-1.991), whereas a protein-based diet was a protective factor (relative risk: 0.6723, 95% confidence interval: 0.4431-1.020). We found no significant relationship between a carbohydrate-based diet and GWG. The total energy intake was significantly higher in the excessive GWG group than in the adequate GWG group. CONCLUSIONS: Mainly a lipid-based diet in pregnant women might represent a risk factor for excessive GWG. However, a protein-based diet is a protective factor for excessive GWG.