Maternal hyperglycemia not linked to obesity in offspring

(HealthDay)—Maternal hyperglycemia seems not to be a risk factor for obesity in offspring aged 5 to 7 years after adjustment for maternal body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online June 19 in Diabetes Care.

Parag K. Thaware, from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, U.K., and colleagues examined the correlation between hyperglycemia during pregnancy and anthropometry in 5- to 7-year-old offspring. Women underwent a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at about 28 weeks of gestation. Overall, 1,320 offspring underwent weight, height, and skinfold thickness measures at age 5 to 7 years.

The researchers found that there was no correlation for maternal fasting plasma glucose (FPG), one-hour plasma glucose, or two-hour plasma glucose with BMI Z score or offspring skinfold sum independent of maternal BMI at OGTT and offspring birth weight Z score. With the offspring BMI Z score expressed as ≥85th, ≥95th, or 99th percentile and the sum of skinfolds expressed as ≥90th percentile specific for sex, this lack of correlation with maternal glycemia persisted. Maternal BMI at OGTT accounted for the initially significant relation between FPG and all offspring adiposity measures.

"After adjustment for maternal BMI at the OGTT, higher maternal FPG concentration during pregnancy (short of diabetes) is no longer a risk factor for obesity, as reflected by BMI and the sum of skinfolds in offspring aged 5 to 7 years," the authors write.

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