Maternal weight,blood lipids,and the offspring weight trajectories during infancy and early childhood in twin pregnancies

Background The intrauterine environment has a profound and long-lasting influence on the health of the offspring.However,its impact on the postnatal catch-up growth of twin children remains unclarified.Therefore,this study aimed to explore the maternal factors in pregnancy associated with twin offspring growth.Methods This study included 3142 live twin children born to 1571 mothers from the Beijing Birth Cohort Study conducted from 2016 to 2021 in Beijing,China.Original and corrected weight-for-age standard deviation scores of the twin offspring from birth to 36 months of age were calculated according to the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards.The corresponding weight trajectories were identified by the latent trajectory model.Maternal factors in pregnancy associated with the weight trajectories of the twin offspring were examined after adjustment for potential confounders.Results Five weight trajectories of the twin children were identified,with 4.9%(154/3142)exhibiting insufficient catch-up growth,30.6%(961/3142),and 46.8%(1469/3142)showing adequate catch-up growth from different birth weights,and 15.0%(472/3142)and 2.7%(86/3142)showing various degrees of excessive catch-up growth.Maternal short stature[adjusted odds ratio(OR)=0.691,95%confidence interval(CI)=0.563–0.848,P=0.0004]and lower total gestational weight gain(GWG)(adjusted OR=0.774,95%CI=0.616–0.972,P=0.03)were associated with insufficient catch-up growth of the offspring.Maternal stature(adjusted OR=1.331,95%CI=1.168–1.518,P<0.001),higher pre-pregnancy body mass index(BMI)(adjusted OR=1.230,95%CI=1.090–1.387,P<0.001),total GWG(adjusted OR=1.207,95%CI=1.068–1.364,P=0.002),GWG rate(adjusted OR=1.165,95%CI=1.027–1.321,P=0.02),total cholesterol(TC)(adjusted OR=1.150,95%CI=1.018–1.300,P=0.03)and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C)(adjusted OR=1.177,95%CI=1.041–1.330)in early pregnancy were associated with excessive growth of the offspring.The pattern of weight trajectories was similar between monochorionic and dichorionic twins.Maternal height,pre-pregnancy BMI,GWG,TC and LDL-C in early pregnancy were positively associated with excess growth in dichorionic twins,yet a similar association was observed only between maternal height and postnatal growth in monochorionic twins.Conclusion This study identified the effect of maternal stature,weight status,and blood lipid profiles during pregnancy on postnatal weight trajectories of the twin offspring,thereby providing a basis for twin pregnancy management to improve the long-term health of the offspring.

Maternal Genistein Intake Can Reduce Body Weight in Male Offspring

The study objectives were to investigate the relationship between early exposure to genistein and obesity in young adulthood and to evaluate changes in reproductive health during puberty and adulthood following in utero exposure to genistein.

Maternal Obesity,Gestational Diabetes,and Fetal Macrosomia:An Incidental or a Mechanistic Relationship?

Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is a well-established risk factor for fetal macrosomia.A significant number of patients with GDM also suffer from obesity,a factor associated with fetal macrosomia.An important question is whether GDM is independently associated with fetal macrosomia,or whether this relationship is merely the result of maternal obesity acting as a confounder.In this review of the literature,we attempt to further elucidate the relationship between GDM,maternal obesity,and fetal macrosomia.

High Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Beijing： Effect of Maternal Birth Weight and Other Risk Factors

Background： Gestational diabetes mellitus （GDM） is associated with both short- and long-term adverse health consequences for both the mother and her offspring. The aim was to study the prevalence and risk factors for GDM in Beijing. Methods： The study population consisted of 15,194 pregnant women attending prenatal care in 15 hospitals in Beijing, who delivered between June 20, 2013, and November 30, 2013, after 28 weeks of gestation. The participants were selected by cluster sampling from the 15 hospitals identified through random systematic sampling based on the number of deliveries in 2012. A questionnaire was designed to collect information. Results： A total of 2987 （19.7%） women were diagnosed with GDM and 208 （1.4%） had diabetes in pregnancy （DIP）, Age （OR： 1.053, 95% CI： 1.033-1.074, P 〈 0.01）, family history of diabetes mellitus （OR： 1.481, 95% CI：1.254 1.748, P 〈 0.01）, prepregnancy body mass index （BMI） （OR： 1.481, 95% CI：1.254 1.748, P 〈 0.01）, BMI gain before 24 weeks （OR： 1.126, 95% CI： 1.075-1.800, P 〈 0.01 ）, maternal birth weight （P 〈 0.01）, and fasting plasma glucose at the first prenatal visit （P 〈 0.01） were identified as risk factors for GDM. In women with birth weight 〈3000 g, GDM rate was significantly higher. Conclusions： One out of every five pregnant women in Beijing either had GDM or DIP and this constitutes a huge health burden for health services. Prepregnancy BMI and weight gain before 24^th week are important modifiable risk factors for GDM. Ensuring birth weight above 3000 g may help reduce risk for future GDM among female offsprings.