MATERNAL OBESITY AND EFFECT ON PLACENTAL NUTRIENT TRANSFER

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2020-01, Vol.76, p.5
• Main Author: Larqué, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Arachidonic acid; Body weight; Children; Childrens health; Cord blood; Depletion; Diabetes mellitus; Dietary supplements; Docosahexaenoic acid; Fatty acids; Fetuses; Gestational diabetes; Glucose transport; Insulin; Lipids; Maternal & child health; Neonates; Nutrient transport; Nutrients; Nutrition; Obesity; Offspring; Overweight; Pediatrics; Placenta; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; Protein transport; Stable isotopes; Umbilical vein; Weight control
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697

Maternal lifestyle during pregnancy and early nutrition and environment of their offspring´s are considered relevant factors for childhood obesity preventative efforts. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain are both positively and independently associated with neonatal and infant adiposity. Early and mid-pregnancy gestational weight gain, which primarily represents increased maternal fat rather than the weight of the fetus, may be causally linked to offspring adiposity through the increased availability of maternal fuels. Normal and overweight women may be more physiologically sensitive to the effects of high gestational weight gain than those with obesity. Recent studies reported that pre-pregnancy BMI was inversely associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega 3, DHA) and omega-6 fatty acids in venous cord blood. Maternal obesity increases placental size but not placental efficiency. Some studies highlight the convenience of DHA supplementation in pregnancies with obesity or diabetes to avoid DHA depletion in the fetus. Similarly, gestational diabetes has been associated with lower proportion of arachidonic acid (20:4 omega-6) and DHA in umbilical vein plasma but not in maternal plasma. Disturbances on placental fatty acid transport using stable isotope labelled FA in these pregnancies and altered FA transport protein expression in placental tissue of obese and GDM women have been confirmed, which could explain these effects. The role of the maternal insulin on the transfer of nutrients from the mother to the fetus may affect also to the nutrient placental transport not only of glucose but also of lipids and aminoacids. Better knowledge on placental nutrient transport in maternal obesity is highlighted to design proper maternal supplementation.