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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #248585
Title: Glucose kinetics and pregnancy outcome in Indian women with low and normal body mass indices

Author
item DWARKANATH, P - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item KURPAD, A - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item MUTHAYYA, S - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item THOMAS, T - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item MHASKAR, A - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item MHASKAR, R - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item THOMAS, A - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item VAZ, M - St John'S National Academy Of Health Sciences
item JAHOOR, F - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2009
Publication Date: 11/13/2009
Citation: Dwarkanath, P., Kurpad, A.V., Muthayya, S., Thomas, T., Mhaskar, A., Mhaskar, R., Thomas, A., Vaz, M., Jahoor, F. 2009. Glucose kinetics and pregnancy outcome in Indian women with low and normal body mass indices. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 63:1327-1334.

Interpretive Summary: During pregnancy, the fetus obtains energy from glucose (sugar) and amino acids (the building blocks of protein) supplied by the mother. Because amino acids are used to make glucose, underweight pregnant women with low protein stores may be unable to produce enough glucose to meet the demands of the fetus. In this study, we measured the production and utilization of glucose in pregnant Indian women with low and normal body mass indices during early and mid-pregnancy. We found that glucose production and utilization was associated with energy and carbohydrate consumption during the first trimester. However, glucose production was similar in the two groups during both trimesters. The results of this study suggest that maternal dietary intake, and not maternal weight, influence glucose production during pregnancy.

Technical Abstract: Fetal energy demands are met from the oxidation of maternally supplied glucose and amino acids. During the fasted state, the glucose supply is thought to be met by gluconeogenesis. Underweight women with low body mass index (BMI) might be unable to adequately supply amino acids to satisfy the demands of gluconeogenesis. Glucose kinetics were measured during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in 10 low-BMI and 10 normal-BMI pregnant women at the 12th hour of an overnight fast using a primed 6 h U-13C glucose infusion and was correlated to maternal dietary and anthropometric variables and birth weight. Low-BMI mothers consumed more energy, carbohydrates, and protein, had faster glucose production (R a) and oxidation rates in the first trimester. In the same trimester, dietary energy and carbohydrate correlated with glucose production, glycogenolysis, and glucose oxidation in all women. Both groups had similar rates of gluconeogenesis in the first and second trimesters. Glucose R a in the second trimester was weakly correlated with the birth weight (r=0.4, P=0.07). Maternal energy and carbohydrate intakes, not BMI, appear to influence glucose R a and oxidation in early and mid pregnancy.