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Limited Impact of Fetal Sex and Maternal Body Mass Index on Fetal and Maternal Insulin Resistance and Lipid Metabolism: Findings from the PEARs Study

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Abstract

The intrauterine environment can have a significant impact on fetal and maternal well-being, both during pregnancy and in later life. We aimed to identify how fetal sex and maternal body mass index (BMI) influence insulin resistance and metabolic function during pregnancy with maternal BMI > 25 kg/m2. This secondary analysis assessed data from the PEARS–randomized controlled trial that recruited pregnant women with body mass indexes 25–39.9 kg/m2. Longitudinal measurements of maternal and fetal insulin resistance and metabolic function were recorded throughout pregnancy. Regression models tested the effects of fetal sex and maternal BMI on markers of metabolic function and insulin regulation. A total of 484 women and their newborns (252 (52%) males vs. 232 (48%) females) were included in the analysis. A total of 333 (69%) women were overweight and 151 (31%) were obese. Male newborns were heavier and larger than females, and had a higher rate of instrumental delivery. Males had a lower LDL, but no other markers of insulin resistance or metabolic function were affected by fetal sex. Women with obesity had elevated markers of insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction compared with women that were overweight, but maternal BMI did not impact these variables in the fetus. Fetal sex did not impact maternal and fetal metabolic parameters in women with BMI > 25 kg/m2. However, a higher BMI caused increasingly deranged maternal blood lipid concentrations and markers of insulin resistance as pregnancy progressed. Lipid monitoring and interventions to reduce lipids during pregnancy therefore require further evaluation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge and thank the mothers who participated in the PEARS study in the National Maternity Hospital.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Maternity Hospital medical fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Anthony R. Rafferty, Aisling A. Geraghty, Maria A. Kennelly, Eileen C. O’Brien & Fionnuala M. McAuliffe

  2. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Reshma Merin Reji & John Mehegan

  3. Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research (CSTAR), School of Public Health, Physical & Sports Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Ricardo Segurado

  4. Department of Endocrinology, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Thomas Smith & Orla Maguire

  5. Department of Midwifery, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Martina Cronin

Authors
  1. Anthony R. Rafferty
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  2. Aisling A. Geraghty
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  3. Maria A. Kennelly
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  4. Eileen C. O’Brien
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  5. Reshma Merin Reji
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  6. John Mehegan
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  7. Ricardo Segurado
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  8. Thomas Smith
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  9. Orla Maguire
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  10. Martina Cronin
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  11. Fionnuala M. McAuliffe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fionnuala M. McAuliffe.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This study presents a secondary analysis of the PEARS database, which was a single-centred–randomised controlled trial conducted at the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, with institutional ethical approval. The trial was registered as ISRCTN29316280.

Statement of Informed Consent

Full written, informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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Rafferty, A.R., Geraghty, A.A., Kennelly, M.A. et al. Limited Impact of Fetal Sex and Maternal Body Mass Index on Fetal and Maternal Insulin Resistance and Lipid Metabolism: Findings from the PEARs Study. Reprod. Sci. 27, 513–522 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-019-00045-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-019-00045-0

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