No Association Between Maternal Dietary Protein Intake and Offspring Insulin Sensitivity Measures in the First Two Years of Life

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Findings of an association between maternal dietary protein intake (1.1–1.7 g·kg−1·day−1) close to requirements for pregnant women throughout gestation (1.22–1.52 g·kg−1·day−1) and offspring insulin sensitivity are mixed, perhaps as a result of the small spread in protein intake and the large gap between measurements (∼9–40 years). Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the association between a wider spread of dietary protein intake during pregnancy and measurements of insulin sensitivity in the offspring in early life. Methods Healthy women (n = 182, mean ± SD; BMI: 26.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2) were recruited early in pregnancy (<10 weeks). Dietary protein intake was assessed using a 3-day food record in early (∼10 weeks, EP) and late (∼30 weeks, LP) pregnancy. Offspring blood was sampled at 12 and 24 months, and the updated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) was computed using fasting glucose and insulin. Body composition was measured using nuclear magnetic resonance. Two linear models were fitted to the data to estimate: 1) the unadjusted relationship of maternal protein intake to offspring HOMA2-IR and 2) the relationship of maternal protein intake to offspring HOMA2-IR adjusted for maternal plant protein intake and BMI, and offspring sex and body fat percentage. Values are mean ± SD. Results Habitual protein intake (average of early and late pregnancy measurements range: 0.5–1.9 g·kg−1·day−1) decreased throughout pregnancy (EP: 1.09 ± 0.36; vs. LP: 0.97 ± 0.28 g·kg−1·day−1, P = 0.0003). Offspring HOMA2-IR did not change from 12 (0.8 ± 0.8) to 24 (0.8 ± 0.9) months. Simple regression analysis: EP dietary protein intake did not associate with HOMA2-IR at 12 (β = 0.153, P = 0.429) and 24 (β = −0.349, P = 0.098) months. Similarly, LP dietary protein intake did not associate with offspring HOMA2-IR at 12 (β = 0.023, P = 0.916) and 24 (β = −0.442, P = 0.085) months. Results remained unchanged after multiple regression analyses were conducted. Conclusions Maternal dietary protein intake (amount or type) during pregnancy is not associated with indirect measurements of insulin sensitivity in offspring during the first two years of life. Funding Sources United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Project 6026-51,000-012-06S, and NIH/NIDDK R01 DK107516.