Maternal early pregnancy lipid profile and offspring's lipids and glycaemic control at age 5-6 years: The ABCD study

Background & aims: Maternal early pregnancy lipid profile might influence offspring's lipids and glycaemic control, through an increased offspring's fat percentage. This explorative study investigates whether maternal early pregnancy lipid profile is associated with offspring's lipids and glycaemic control independently of offspring's fat percentage and if these associations are mediated by offspring's fat percentage. Possible sex differences in these associations are also examined. Methods: 1133 mother child pairs of the prospective ABCD-study were included. Maternal non-fasting lipids were collected in early pregnancy: triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), Apolipoprotein Al (ApoA1), Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and free fatty acids (FFA). Fasting triglycerides, TC, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose and C-peptide were assessed in offspring aged 5-6 years and HOMA2-IR was calculated. Results: After adjustment for covariates, strongest associations were found between maternal TC and offspring's TC (boys beta(95%CI) = 0.141 (0.074-0.207); girls beta(95%Cl) = 0.268 (0.200; 0.336)) and LDL (boys beta(95%Cl) = 0.114 (0.052; 0.176); girls beta(95%CI) = 0.247 (0.181-0.312)), maternal ApoB and offspring's TC (boys beta(95%CI) = 0.638 (0.311-0.965); girls beta(95%CD = 1.121 (0.766-1.475)) and LDL (boys beta(95% CI) = 0.699 (0.393-1,005); girls beta(95%CI) = 1.198 (0.868-1.529)), and maternal ApoAl and offspring's HDL (only boys beta(95%CI) = 0.221 (0.101-0.341)). No significant association was found between maternal lipids and offspring's glycaemic control, and offspring's fat percentage played no mediating role. Conclusions: Maternal early pregnancy lipid profile is associated with offspring's lipid profile in childhood, with overall stronger associations in girls. This study provides further evidence that lowering lipid levels during pregnancy might be beneficial for the long term health of the offspring. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.