Changes in the biochemical and immunological components of serum and colostrum of overweight and obese mothers.

Mahmi Fujimori,Tassiane C Morais,Eduardo L França,Vanessa Fiorin,Luiz C De Abreu,Adenilda C Honorio-França

doi:10.1186/s12884-015-0574-4

Abstract

BackgroundObesity in pregnancy is associated with systemic inflammation, immunological changes and adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. Information on the association between maternal obesity and breast milk composition is scarce. This study describes changes and relationships between biochemical and immunological parameters of colostrum and serum of overweight and obese women.MethodsColostrum and blood samples were collected from 25 normal weight, 24 overweight and 19 obese women for determination of glucose, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, immunoglobulins, complement proteins (C3 and C4), fat and calorie content and C-reactive protein (CRP).ResultsGlucose was higher in colostrum of obese women (p = .002). In normal weight and obese women, total protein content was higher in colostrum than in serum (p = .001). Serum triglycerides (p = .008) and cholesterol (p = .010) concentrations were significantly higher in overweight and obese women than in their normal weight counterparts, but in colostrum their concentrations were similar across the three groups. Secretory IgA (sIgA) in colostrum and IgA in serum concentrations were significantly higher (p = .001) in overweight and obese mothers, whereas IgG and IgM concentrations did not vary among the groups (p = .825). Serum C3 (p = .001) and C4 (p = .040) concentrations were higher in obese women. No differences in colostrum complement proteins were detected among the groups. Calorie content (p = .003) and fat (p = .005) concentrations in colostrum and serum CRP (p = .002) were higher in obese women.ConclusionsThe results corroborate the hypothesis that colostrum of overweight and obese women undergoes biochemical and immunological changes that affect its composition, namely increasing glucose concentrations, calorie content, fat and sIgA concentrations.

Highlights

Obesity in pregnancy is associated with systemic inflammation, immunological changes and adverse maternal-fetal outcomes
Colostrum glucose concentrations were higher in obese (p = .002) than in overweight and normal weight groups
The present study shows that serum cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP), C3 and C4 protein concentrations were higher in obese women, their concentrations in colostrum were similar across the groups

Summary

Introduction

Obesity in pregnancy is associated with systemic inflammation, immunological changes and adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. Due to changes in lifestyle the incidence of overweight and obesity are increasing among breastfeeding mothers. Obesity has been shown to increase the expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and raises plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, leading to the chronic low-grade inflammation that characterizes the disease [14] and appears to play a central role in the Fujimori et al BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2015) 15:166 development of a variety of metabolic disorders and hormonal dysfunctions [15,16,17]. Epidemiological and clinical findings corroborate this, showing a higher incidence and severity of infectious diseases in the obese [19]

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