Associations between maternal physical activity, maternal lipid levels, and infantanthropometric outcomes at two weeks of age.

Authors: SOBIK, SARAH - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS); SIMS, CLARK - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS); CRIMMINS, MEGHAN - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC); BIMALI, M - Nexus Institute Of Research And Innovation; WILLIAMS, D - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS); ANDRES, ALINE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: Maternal and Child Health Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2022
Publication Date: 11/9/2022
Citation: Sobik, S., Sims, C.R., Crimmins, M., Bimali, M., Williams, D.K., Andres, A. 2022. Associations between maternal physical activity, maternal lipid levels, and infantanthropometric outcomes at two weeks of age.. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 27:18-177. https://DOI.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03558-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03558-4

Interpretive Summary: This study investigated the relationship between maternal physical activity, maternal circulating lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides during pregnancy and infant growth at birth and 2 weeks of age. A total of 234 women participated. Women with normal weight had higher physical activity, lower triglycerides and cholesterol at 12 weeks compared to women with normal weight with low physical activity. Women with overweight or obesity and high physical activity throughout pregnancy had lower triglycerides and low density lipoprotein during the first trimester, lower low density lipoprotein during the second trimester, and lower triglycerides during the third trimester compared to the women with overweight or obesity who had low physical activity levels. For children born to women with overweight or obesity, maternal circulating triglycerides and low density lipoprotein were most associated with infant anthropometrics at 2 weeks of age. This study supports that higher physical activity during pregnancy is associated with lower lipid levels throughout pregnancy with a stronger effect in women with overweight or obesity and that maternal lipids are associated with infant growth at two weeks of life in women with overweight or obesity.

Technical Abstract: Background : This study determined the relationship between physical activity (PA), circulating lipids throughout pregnancy and infant anthropometric outcomes at birth and 2 weeks of age. Methods: Women (N=234) with normal weight (NW, BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ) and with overweight and class I obesity (OW/OB, BMI 25-35 kg/m 2 ) were categorized into high and low PA based on average cohort steps during pregnancy (8099 steps/day). Circulating fasting lipids were measured at each trimester. Standardized methods were used to obtain anthropometrics measures. Infant body composition was estimated by quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (EchoMRI-AH small; ECHO Medical Systems). Results : Women with NW who had higher activity had lower circulating triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels at 12 weeks compared to women with NW and low activity (p<0.05). Women with OW/OB and high activity level throughout pregnancy had lower circulating TG, and low density lipoprotein (LDL), at 12 weeks, lower LDL at 24 weeks, and lower TG at 36 weeks compared to the women with OW/OB who had low activity levels (p<0.05). For children born to women with OW/OB, maternal circulating TG and LDL were most associated with infant anthropometrics at 2 weeks of age. Conclusion: This study supports that higher PA during pregnancy is associated with lower lipid levels throughout pregnancy with a greater effect size in women with OW/OB. Maternal lipids were associated with anthropometrics and infant body composition at two weeks of life in women with OW/OB.