Large For Gestational Age Newborns Research Articles

Similarities between acylcarnitine profiles in large for gestational age newborns and obesity

Large for gestational age (LGA) newborns have an increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Acylcarnitine profiles in obese children and adults are characterized by increased levels of C3, C5, and certain medium-chain (C12) and long-chain (C14:1 and C16) acylcarnitines. C2 is also increased in insulin-resistant states. In this 1-year observational study of 2514 newborns (246 LGA newborns, 250 small for gestational age (GA) newborns, and 2018 appropriate for GA newborns), we analyzed and compared postnatal acylcarnitine profiles in LGA newborns with profiles described for obese individuals. Acylcarnitine analysis was performed by tandem mass spectrometry on dried-blood spots collected on day 3 of life. LGA newborns had higher levels of total short-chain acylcarnitines (p < 0.001), C2 (p < 0.01) and C3 (p < 0.001) acylcarnitines, and all C12, C14, and C16 acylcarnitines except C12:1. They also had a higher tendency towards carnitine insufficiency (p < 0.05) and carnitine deficiency (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between LGA newborns born to mothers with or without a history of gestational diabetes. This novel study describes a postnatal acylcarnitine profile in LGA with higher levels of C2, C3, total acylcarnitines, and total short-chain acylcarnitines that is characteristic of childhood and adult obesity and linked to an unhealthy metabolic phenotype.

Dynamic interaction between fetal adversity and a genetic score reflecting dopamine function on developmental outcomes at 36 months.

BackgroundFetal adversity, evidenced by poor fetal growth for instance, is associated with increased risk for several diseases later in life. Classical cut-offs to characterize small (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) newborns are used to define long term vulnerability. We aimed at exploring the possible dynamism of different birth weight cut-offs in defining vulnerability in developmental outcomes (through the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development), using the example of a gene vs. fetal adversity interaction considering gene choices based on functional relevance to the studied outcome.Methods36-month-old children from an established prospective birth cohort (Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability, and Neurodevelopment) were classified according to birth weight ratio (BWR) (SGA ≤0.85, LGA >1.15, exploring a wide range of other cut-offs) and genotyped for polymorphisms associated with dopamine signaling (TaqIA-A1 allele, DRD2-141C Ins/Ins, DRD4 7-repeat, DAT1-10- repeat, Met/Met-COMT), composing a score based on the described function, in which hypofunctional variants received lower scores.ResultsThere were 251 children (123 girls and 128 boys). Using the classic cut-offs (0.85 and 1.15), there were no statistically significant interactions between the neonatal groups and the dopamine genetic score. However, when changing the cut-offs, it is possible to see ranges of BWR that could be associated with vulnerability to poorer development according to the variation in the dopamine function.ConclusionThe classic birth weight cut-offs to define SGA and LGA newborns should be seen with caution, as depending on the outcome in question, the protocols for long-term follow up could be either too inclusive—therefore most costly, or unable to screen true vulnerabilities—and therefore ineffective to establish early interventions and primary prevention.

Maternal lipids and leptin concentrations are associated with large-for-gestational-age births: a prospective cohort study

The change in maternal lipid, leptin and adiponectin concentrations during pregnancy and infant birth weight (BW) is still poorly characterized. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the association of maternal lipids, leptin and adiponectin throughout pregnancy with large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births and BW z-score. A prospective cohort of 199 mothers was followed during pregnancy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statistical analyses comprised multiple logistic and linear regression. Women delivered 36 LGA and 11 small-for-gestational-age newborns. HDL-c rate of change throughout pregnancy was negatively associated with BW z-score (β = −1.99; p = 0.003) and the delivery of a LGA newborn (OR = 0.02; p = 0.043). Pregnancy baseline concentration of log leptin was positively associated (OR = 3.92; p = 0.025) with LGA births. LDL-c rate of change throughout pregnancy was positively associated with BW z-score (β = 0.31; p = 0.004). Log triglycerides and log adiponectin were not significantly associated with BW z-score or LGA birth. In conclusion, a higher log leptin pregnancy baseline concentration and a lower HDL-c rate of change during pregnancy were associated with higher odds of having a LGA newborn. These maternal biomarkers are important to foetal growth and could be used in prenatal care as an additional strategy to screen women at risk of inadequate BW.

High cholesterol dietary intake during pregnancy is associated with large for gestational age in a sample of low-income women of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The association between the quality of maternal dietary fat intake during pregnancy and the infant's birthweight (BW) remains controversial. Our goal was to investigate the association between maternal dietary fat intake during pregnancy and the rate of large for gestational age (LGA) newborns. This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of 297 pairs of mothers/children attending a public maternity at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. BW for gestational age according to the Intergrowth 21st was defined as follows: adequate for gestational age (AGA ≤ 90th percentile) and LGA (>90th percentile). The statistical analysis was a Poisson regression with robust estimations of the standard errors. Maternal dietary fat intake variables comprised lipids (% total energy); saturated (mg/1000 kcal), monounsaturated (mg/1000 kcal) and polyunsaturated (mg/1000 kcal) fats; and cholesterol (mg/1000 kcal), all of which were obtained with a Food Frequency Questionnaire. The mean BW was 3338 g (SD = 446.9), and the rate of LGA newborns was 13.1%. The mean maternal total energy intake was 2880 kcal (SD = 1074), cholesterol was 154.3 mg/1000 kcal (SD = 68.1) and monounsaturated fat was 6.9 mg/1000 kcal (SD = 2). Mothers of LGA newborns reported higher cholesterol dietary intake (195.8 vs. 148 mg/1000 kcal; P < 0.001), pre-pregnancy body mass index (25.1 vs. 23.5 kg/m2 ; P = 0.026) when compared with mothers of AGA newborns. Women with cholesterol intake within the fourth quartile were 2.48 (95% confidence interval: 1.31-4.66) times more likely to have an LGA infant compared with those in the 1-3 quartiles. Dietary intake of cholesterol during pregnancy influences LGA even after adjusting for other confounders.

The Independent Importance of Pre-pregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain for the Prevention of Large-for Gestational Age Brazilian Newborns.

Objectives To study the independent effect of pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain (GWG), and other important risk factors on newborn birth weight. Methods Baseline data of 435 adult women and their singletons born between January and February 2012 at a public hospital in Brazil were used. Logistic regression was applied to determine the independent importance of pre-pregnancy weight and GWG for large for gestational age (LGA) newborns. Results Among all mothers, 37.9% were overweight and obese before pregnancy and 45.3% experienced excessive GWG. Among the newborns, 24.4% were classified as LGA. Univariate analysis showed an association of family income, GWG, pre-pregnancy BMI and excessive GWG with LGA newborns. Smoking before and during pregnancy was associated with a decreased likelihood of giving birth to an LGA newborn compared to mothers who did not smoke. After adjustment for confounding variables, age at birth of first child, GWG, HbA1c and pre-pregnancy weight-GWG were significant and independent determinants of giving birth to an LGA newborn. Mothers with pre-pregnancy overweight and excessive GWG were more likely to deliver an LGA newborn (OR 2.54, P<0.05) compared to mothers who were normal weight and experienced adequate GWG. Conclusions for Practice Age at first birth of child, GWG, HbA1c and pre-pregnancy overweight combined with excessive GWG are independent determinants of LGA newborns. The results of this study suggest that both primary prevention of overweight in women of childbearing age and management of GWG may be important strategies to reduce the number of LGA newborns and, consequently, the long-term public health burden of obesity.

Association of ADIPOQ, LEP, and FTO gene polymorphisms with large for gestational age infants.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the ADIPOQ rs2241766, LEP rs7799039, and FTO rs9939609 polymorphisms on the birth weight status of Brazilian infants. This cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Brazil. Large for gestational age (LGA) newborns (n = 105), and the same number of small for gestational age/adequate for gestational age newborns, were included. Genotyping of the rs2241766, rs7799039, and rs9939609 polymorphisms was done by PCR-RFLP analysis. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between LGA newborns and the presence of the polymorphisms. Infants carrying the GG genotype of the rs7799039 polymorphism were 2.12 times more likely to be born LGA than those carrying the GA + AA genotypes (95% CI: 1.17-3.83). These results did not change substantially after adjusting for potential confounding variables (OR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.05-3.73) and adjustment for the three polymorphisms (OR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.05-3.74). Regarding the ADIPOQ polymorphism, newborns carrying the TG or GG genotype were 1.88 times more likely to be born LGA than those carrying the TT genotype, although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.082). No association was found between the FTO gene polymorphism and newborn weight status. This study showed that the GG genotype of the LEP polymorphism rs7799039 is a risk factor for LGA infants. The exact role and mechanism of action of the GG genotype of this polymorphism in weight status control remain to be elucidated, and more studies are needed.

Maternal lipids associated with large-for-gestational-age birth weight in women with type 1 diabetes: results from a prospective single-center study.

IntroductionDespite improvement in diabetes care over the years, the incidence of macrosomia in type 1 diabetic mothers is still very high and even shows an increasing tendency. It is suggested that other factors that maternal hyperglycemia might be associated with excessive fetal growth in diabetic mothers. The aim of this study was to determine whether maternal lipids might contribute to high rates of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns in women with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).Material and methodsThis prospective, single-center study was performed in a population of women with T1DM admitted to the perinatal center for women with diabetes. Data were collected in the first trimester (< 12th week), in mid-pregnancy (20th–24th weeks), and before delivery (34th–39th weeks).ResultsAmong 114 women included in the analysis, 30 (26.3%) delivered LGA newborns. The remaining 84 (73.7%) newborns were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) HDL concentration in the first trimester was significantly associated with LGA (p = 0.01). Similar associations were observed for the HDL concentrations in mid-pregnancy (p = 0.04) and before delivery (p = 0.03). Higher triglyceride concentrations in the first trimester (p = 0.02) and before delivery (p = 0.008) were associated with LGA. Higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in mid-pregnancy and before delivery were associated with LGA. The associations between maternal lipids and LGA were independent of maternal body mass index at onset of the study, gestational weight gain and HbA1c concentrations.ConclusionsDecreased HDL and increased triglycerides during pregnancy might contribute to the development of LGA in women with type 1 diabetes.

Maternal 75-g OGTT glucose levels as predictive factors for large-for-gestational age newborns in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Our goal was to investigate which glucose measurement from the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has more capability of predicting large for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The study group consisted of 118 consecutively pregnant women with singleton pregnancy, patients of Outpatients Department of the Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolic Disorders Clinic. All were prospectively screened for GDM between 24th and 28th week of pregnancy and followed to delivery. Outcome measures included: patients' ages, pre-pregnancy BMI, BMI before delivery, FPG, 1 and 2 hour OGTT glucose values, haemoglobin A1c at third trimester, gestational week of delivery, mode of delivery and baby birth weight. From 118 pregnancies, 78 (66.1%) women were with GDM, and 40 (33.9%) without GDM. There were statistically significant differences (30.7 versus 5.0%, p < 0.01) between LGA newborns from GDM and control group, respectively. Gestation week of delivery and fasting glucose levels were independent predictors for LGA (Beta = 0.58 and Beta = 0.37 respectively, p < 0.01). Areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) were compared for the prediction of LGA (0.782 (0.685-0.861) for fasting, 0.719 (0.607-0.815) for 1-hour and 0.51 (0.392-0.626) for 2-hour OGTT plasma glucose levels). Fasting and 1-hour plasma glucose levels from OGTT may predict LGA babies in GDM pregnancies.

Born Large for Gestational Age: Bigger Is Not Always Better

Born Large for Gestational Age: Bigger Is Not Always Better

Childhood Growth Trajectories of Etiological Subgroups of Large for Gestational Age Newborns

To evaluate whether large for gestational age (LGA) etiological subgroups have differential growth trajectories during early childhood. Approximately 10,700 infants and their parents were included in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort in 2001-2002. Research staff collected data in 5 waves when participating children were approximately 9 months and 2, 4, 5, and 6 years of age. We analyzed 2950 LGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) children with at least 1 growth outcome at ages 9 months, 2 years, and 4 years. We divided 600 LGA newborns into 8 subgroups by maternal overweight or obesity before pregnancy (OW/OB), diabetes mellitus (DM), and excessive gestational weight gain (ExGWG). We used mixed effect regression models to compare trajectories of height (length)-for-age or body mass index (BMI) z scores across LGA subgroups and the AGA reference group. Relative to the reference group, the LGA subgroup with maternal OW/OB and DM but normal gestational weight gain had "continuous high rising" BMI z-score trajectory from 9 months to 4 years and the greatest mean z score at 4 years (2.14 [95% CI, 1.29, 2.98]). The LGA subgroup free of maternal OW/OB, DM, or ExGWG had a similar BMI z-score trajectory ("stable low") from 9 months to 4 years and a similar 4-years mean z score (0.97 [95% CI, 0.75, 1.18] vs 0.72 [95% CI, 0.67, 0.78]) relative to the AGA reference group. The LGA subgroup with co-occurrence of maternal OW/OB and DM had the greatest 4-year BMI, whereas the LGA subgroup free of maternal OW/OB, DM, or ExGWG were tall but lean ("a healthy phenotype").

Infants born large-for-gestational-age display slower growth in early infancy, but no epigenetic changes at birth.

We evaluated the growth patterns of infants born large-for-gestational-age (LGA) from birth to age 1 year compared to those born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA). In addition, we investigated possible epigenetic changes associated with being born LGA. Seventy-one newborns were classified by birth weight as AGA (10th–90th percentile; n = 42) or LGA (>90th percentile; n = 29). Post-natal follow-up until age 1 year was performed with clinical assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analysed on umbilical tissue in 19 AGA and 27 LGA infants. At birth, LGA infants had greater weight (p < 0.0001), length (p < 0.0001), ponderal index (p = 0.020), as well as greater head (p < 0.0001), chest (p = 0.044), and abdominal (p = 0.007) circumferences than AGA newborns. LGA infants were still larger at the age of 3 months, but by age 6 months there were no more differences between groups, due to higher length and weight increments in AGA infants between 0 and 6 months (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Genome-wide analysis showed no epigenetic differences between LGA and AGA infants. Overall, LGA infants had slower growth in early infancy, being anthropometrically similar to AGA infants by 6 months of age. In addition, differences between AGA and LGA newborns were not associated with epigenetic changes.

1H NMR-based urine metabolic profile of IUGR, LGA, and AGA newborns in the first week of life

Under conditions of non-optimal supply of nutrients, maternal diet during gestation can alter the balance between anabolic and catabolic pathways of fetus and triggers an effect of programming to the metabolic syndrome. Metabolomics is an analytical technique that has been recently attracting increasing interest for the identification of biomarkers of dietary exposure. In this study, a NMR-based metabolomic approach was employed for an explorative analysis of the time-related urinary metabolic profiles of three groups of newborns receiving a different fetal nutrition: adequate for gestational age (AGA), with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and large for gestational age (LGA). Urine samples were collected over the first week of life. Application of Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) evidenced similar time-related modifications in the metabolic profiles of the three classes of infants, consisting mainly of changes in levels of taurine, creatinine, betaine, and glycine. Furthermore, alterations in the content of citrate and myo-inositol were found to be characteristic of IUGR and LGA, whole levels were higher with respect to controls, while higher contents of betaine and succinate were noted in AGA. Our results positively support the application of the metabolomic approach in the study of the metabolic pathways associated to fetal malnutrition.

Evaluating gestational weight gain recommendations in pregestational diabetes

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) does not provide recommendations for gestational weight gain (GWG) specific to women with pregestational diabetes. We aimed to assess the impact of GWG outside the IOM recommendations on perinatal outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all singletons with pregestational diabetes from 2008 through 2013. Women were classified as GWG within, less than, or greater than IOM recommendations for body mass index per week of pregnancy. Maternal outcomes examined were cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, and percentage of visits with glycemic control (>50% blood sugars at goal). Neonatal outcomes were birthweight, small for gestational age (<10th percentile), large for gestational age (LGA) (>90th percentile), macrosomia (>4000 g), preterm delivery (<37 weeks), and birth injury (shoulder dystocia, fracture, brachial plexus injury, cephalohematoma). Groups were compared using analysis of variance and χ(2) test, as appropriate. Backwards stepwise logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding factors. Of 340 subjects, 37 (10.9%) were within, 64 (18.8%) less than, and 239 (70.3%) greater than IOM recommendations. The incidence of cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, glycemic control, preterm delivery, and birth injury were not significantly different between GWG groups. The incidence of LGA and macrosomia increased as GWG category increased (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-8.39 and AOR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.16-13.9, respectively) without decreasing the incidence of small for gestational age (AOR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.10-1.19). Increases in the risk in LGA and macrosomia were not explained by differences in glycemic control by GWG groups. Women with pregestational diabetes mellitus should becounseled to gain within the IOM recommendations to avoid LGA and macrosomic newborns.

Identificación de una nueva población neonatal de riesgo, con curva de crecimmiento fetal peruana

OBJETIVO: Determinar los recién nacidos pequeños para la edad gestacional (RN PEG), al emplear las curvas de crecimiento intrauterino (CCIU) peruanas, y estudiar sus riesgos de morbimortalidad. DISEÑO: Estudio prospectivo, analítico, de casos y controles. LUGAR: Hospitales del Ministerio de Salud del Perú (MSP). PARTICIPANTES: Recién nacidos. INTERVENCIONES: Fueron clasificados 95 751 neonatos de 29 hospitales del MSP, nacidos en el año 2005 aplicando CCIU por peso, de Lubchenco y el Perú. Se comparó la distribución porcentual, considerando diferencias significativas cuando p &lt; 0,05. Se estudió los riesgos de morbimortalidad de los RN PEG adicionales, denominados ‘nuevos PEG’, en comparación con los adecuados para edad gestacional (AEG), de la semana 37 a la 42, utilizando odds ratio, con intervalo de confianza al 95%. Se utilizó el Sistema Informático Perinatal. PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADOS: Porcentajes de recién nacidos adecuados, grandes o pequeños para la edad gestacional; riesgos de los recién nacidos ‘nuevos’ PEG. RESULTADOS: Los RN grandes para la edad gestacional (GEG) disminuyeron significativamente de 14,3% a 11,4%, los AEG disminuyeron de 81,7% a 78,5% y los RN PEG aumentaron de 4,1% a 10,1%. Hubo 9 664 RN PEG al usar la curva peruana y 3 899 al usar la de Lubchenco. La diferencia de 5 765 RN (6% de la población total) correspondió a los ‘RN nuevos PEG’, siendo sus riesgos mortalidad neonatal (OR = 15,6), trastornos metabólicos (OR = 2,2), malformaciones congénitas (OR = 2,1), infecciones (OR = 2), síndrome de dificultad respiratoria (OR = 1,8), asfixia perinatal (OR = 1,7) y morbilidad neonatal (OR = 1,5). CONCLUSIONES: La curva de Lubchenco sobredimensiona los RN GEG y subdimensiona los RN PEG, siendo un patrón poco exigente para RN peruanos. El grupo de nuevos PEG presenta riesgo alto de morbimortalida.

Capsaicin-containing chili improved postprandial hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and fasting lipid disorders in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and lowered the incidence of large-for-gestational-age newborns

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may increase the future health risks of women and their offspring. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of capsaicin supplementation on blood glucose, lipid metabolism and pregnancy outcomes in women with GDM. Forty-four pregnant women with GDM at 22-33 gestational weeks were randomly assigned to the capsaicin group (5mg/d of capsaicin) or to the placebo group (0mg/d of capsaicin) for 4 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The concentrations of fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin, 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (2-h PG) and serum insulin (2-h INS), and fasting serum lipids, liver and kidney function parameters, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were measured at 0 and 4 weeks. The maternal and neonatal outcomes were also recorded. Forty-two women completed the trial. Compared to the placebo group, 2-h PG and 2-h INS concentrations and 2-h postprandial HOMA-IR (2-h HOMA-IR) levels, and the fasting serum total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations significantly decreased in the capsaicin group after treatment (P<0.05). Moreover, the fasting serum apolipoprotein B and CGRP concentrations significantly increased in the capsaicin group (P<0.05). The changes in the 2-h PG and 2-h INS concentrations and in the 2-h HOMA-IR were negatively correlated with the change in the serum CGRP concentration (P<0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns was significantly lower in the capsaicin group than in the placebo group (P=0.022). Capsaicin-containing chili supplementation regularly improved postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia as well as fasting lipid metabolic disorders in women with GDM, and it decreased the incidence of LGA newborns.

A survey of birthweight percentile curves used in hospitals across Ontario.

The practice of weighing newborns enables the distinction between healthy weight babies and those who are either small for gestational age (SGA) or large for gestational age (LGA). Because SGA and LGA newborns experience greater morbidity and mortality, such categorization potentially influences clinical care and the expectations of the child’s parents (1). There is evidence that, relative to non-SGA infants, those classified as SGA have significantly longer stays in neonatal intensive care units, extended use of continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, and more use of supplemental oxygen (2). In other words, correctly classifying an infant as SGA or LGA, or neither, is important. Birthweight percentile curves (or ‘charts’) are the classic method to visually determine whether a newborn is SGA, LGA, or of appropriate weight for gestational age and sex; however, it is not clear whether newborn centres use the same type of chart. Therefore, we surveyed all hospitals in Ontario that provide newborn care to determine which newborn percentile curve they use in their centre.

Urinary metabolomics (GC-MS) reveals that low and high birth weight infants share elevated inositol concentrations at birth

Objective: Metabolomics is a new “omics” platform aimed at high-throughput identification, quantification and characterization of small-molecule metabolites. The metabolomics approach has been successfully applied to the classification different physiological states and identification of perturbed biochemical pathways. The purpose of the current investigation is the application of metabolomics to explore biological mechanisms which may lead to the onset of metabolic syndrome in adulthood.Methods: We evaluated differences in metabolites in the urine collected within 12 h from 23 infants with IUGR (IntraUterine Growth Restriction), or LGA (Large for Gestational Age), compared to control infants (10 patients defined AGA: Appropriate for Gestational Age). Urinary metabolites were quantified by GC-MS and used to highlight similarities between the two metabolic diseases and identify metabolic markers for their predisposition. Quantified metabolites were analyzed using a multivariate statistics coupled with receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of identified biomarkers.Results: Urinary myo-inositol was the most important discriminant between LGA + IUGR and control infants, and displayed an area under the ROC curve = 1.Conclusion: We postulate that the increase in plasma and consequently urinary inositol may constitute a marker of altered glucose metabolism during fetal development in both IUGR and LGA newborns.

Investigation of the 1H-NMR based urine metabolomic profiles of IUGR, LGA and AGA newborns on the first day of life

1H-NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis was used for the first time to compare the urinary NMR metabolic profiles of neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and large for gestational age (LGA). For the sake of comparison, infants who were adequate for gestational age (AGA) were also analyzed. Pattern recognition methods, including Principal Component Analyses (PCA), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA), were used to analyze NMR data. Clear differences among the metabolic profiles of AGA, IUGR and LGA were observed. The main metabolites responsible for these differentiations were identified as myo-inositol, creatinine, creatine, citrate, urea and glycine. In particular, among these, myo-inositol may be a potential biomarker of an altered glucose metabolism during fetal development both in IUGR and LGA. This study highlights the applicability of NMR-based metabolomics for improving the understanding of the relations among nutrition, integrated metabolism and health in neonatology.

Effect of maternal lipid profile, C-peptide, insulin, and HBA1c levels during late pregnancy on large-for-gestational age newborns.

Large-for-gestational age (LGA) newborns can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Previous studies have shown that the levels of maternal blood lipids, connecting peptide (C-peptide), insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were significantly different between LGA and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) newborns. This study aimed to determine the effect of the levels of maternal lipids, C-peptide, insulin, and HbA1c during late pregnancy on LGA newborns. This study comprised 2790 non-diabetic women in late pregnancy. Among their newborns, 2236 (80.1%) newborns were AGA, and 554 (19.9%) newborns were LGA. Maternal and neonatal characteristics were obtained from questionnaires and their case records. The levels of maternal fasting serum apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), C-peptide, insulin and blood HbA1c were measured. The chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze categorical variables and continuous variables between the AGA and LGA groups, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was made to determine the independent risk factors for LGA newborns. Maternal TG, C-peptide, insulin and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in the LGA group than in the AGA group (P<0.05). The LGA group had significantly lower levels of maternal TC, HDL-C and LDL-C than the AGA group (P<0.05). After adjustment for confounding variables, including maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, education, smoking, annual household income, amniotic fluid volume, gestational hypertension, newborn gender and gestational age at blood collection, high maternal TG levels remained significantly associated with LGA newborns (P<0.05). High maternal TG level during late pregnancy is significantly associated with LGA newborns.

Impacto del ambiente glucémico sobre el peso fetal en la diabetes gestacional

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between maternal glycaemic control and final newborn (NB) birth weight in patients with gestational diabetes (GD). MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 214singleton pregnancies with GD. Maternal characteristics, newborn outcomes and glycaemic control during pregnancy were analysed. GD was assessed by measurements of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at different times during the third trimester (3T), fasting, pre-prandial, and 1 and 2hour post-prandial capillary blood glucose (1hPP-2hPP). ResultsThe percentage of NB large for gestational age (LGA) was 9.9% (macrosomia 5.4%), with no differences between genders. Mothers with LGA NB had a higher weight and percentage of body fat before pregnancy (P<.05), more weight gain during pregnancy (P<.01), and required more insulin. In pregnancies with LGA NB, the mean third trimester HbA1c and mean HbA1c (P<.01), were higher, as well as 1hPP (P<.05), 2hPP (P<.01) blood glucose and mean capillary blood glucose (P<.05). The mean third trimester HbA1c and 2hPP blood glucoses were correlated with the fetal weight index (r=0.22, P<.01, and r=0.17, P<.05, respectively). ConclusionsMothers with LGA NB have worse glycaemic control, despite having received a more intensive treatment. Treatment strategies should be implemented early during pregnancy, not forgetting maternal overweight treatment. HbA1c and 2hPP blood glucose are the only control parameters that correlated with NB weight in our group.