Low maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy increases the risk of childhood obesity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vitamin D may modulate adipogenesis. However, limited studies have investigated the effect of maternal vitamin D during pregnancy on offspring adiposity or cardiometabolic parameters with inconclusive results.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this study is to examine the association of maternal 25(OH)-vitamin D [25(OH)D] status with offspring obesity and cardiometabolic characteristics in 532 mother-child pairs from the prospective pregnancy cohort Rhea in Crete, Greece.

METHODS:

Maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were measured at the first prenatal visit (mean: 14 weeks, SD: 4). Child outcomes included body mass index standard deviation score, waist circumference, skin-fold thickness, blood pressure and serum lipids at ages 4 and 6 years. Body fat percentage was also measured at 6 years. Body mass index growth trajectories from birth to 6 years were estimated by mixed effects models with fractional polynomials of age. Adjusted associations were obtained via multivariable linear regression analyses.

RESULTS:

About two-thirds of participating mothers had 25(OH)D concentrations <50 nmol L-1 . Offspring of women in the low 25(OH)D tertile (<37.7 nmol L-1 ) had higher body mass index standard deviation score (β 0.20, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.37), and waist circumference (β 0.87 95% CI: 0.12, 1.63) at preschool age, compared with the offspring of women with higher 25(OH)D measurements (≥37.7 nmol L-1 ), on covariate-adjusted analyses. The observed relationships persisted at age 6 years. We found no association between maternal 25(OH)D concentrations and offspring blood pressure or serum lipids at both time points.

CONCLUSIONS:

Exposure to very low 25(OH)D concentrations in utero may increase childhood adiposity indices. Given that vitamin D is a modifiable risk factor, our findings may have important public health implications.

• Authors: V Daraki, T Roumeliotaki, G Chalkiadaki, M Katrinaki, M Karachaliou, V Leventakou, M Vafeiadi, K Sarri, M Vassilaki, S Papavasiliou, M Kogevinas, L Chatzi
• Journal: Pediatric obesity (Pediatr Obes) Vol. 13 Issue 8 Pg. 467-475 (08 2018) ISSN: 2047-6310 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29377526 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2018 World Obesity Federation.

Chemical References

• Vitamin D

Topics

• Adiposity
• Adult
• Blood Pressure
• Body Mass Index
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Greece
• Humans
• Male
• Mothers
• Pediatric Obesity (blood, complications)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (blood)
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Skinfold Thickness
• Vitamin D (blood)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (blood, complications)
• Waist Circumference