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Pediatrics

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk factors in women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy and in their offspring at age 5–6 years

International Journal of Obesity volume 42, pages 1019–1028 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objective

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels [25(OH)D] may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In pregnant women excessive weight gain and 25(OH)D deficiency are common complications and both could have deleterious consequences on their children. We aimed to study the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and CVD risk factors in pregnant women and in their offspring at school age.

Subjects/methods

Fasting serum 25(OH)D and its bioavailable fraction were quantified in 310 healthy pregnant women [with adequate (n = 113), insufficient (n = 113) and excessive (n = 84) weight gain]. A follow-up at 5–6 years was performed in sixty-six children born of these mothers. Lipids, insulin, glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured in all subjects. Children’s carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) together with visceral and intra-abdominal fat were measured by ultrasonography.

Results

Lower maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower maternal age, and higher body mass index, triglycerides and hsCRP (all p < 0.05). In women with excessive weight gain during gestation, serum 25(OH)D concentrations showed independent associations with maternal hsCRP (β = −0.283 p = 0.03) and triglycerides (β = −0.436, p = 0.005). Maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations were also independently associated with cIMT (β = −0.288, p = 0.04), visceral fat (β = −0.281, p = 0.01) and intra-abdominal fat (β = −0.248, p = 0.01) in their children at 5–6 years.

Conclusions

Lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations were related to CVD risk factors in pregnant woman and in their offspring. The cardiometabolic consequences of low 25(OH)D concentrations during pregnancy could be aggravated by excessive weight gain during gestation.

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Acknowledgements

FdZ is a Clinical Investigator of the Clinical Research Council of the University Hospital Leuven, Belgium. LI is a Clinical Investigator of CIBERDEM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas). JB is an Investigator of the Miguel Servet Fund (National Institute of Health Carlos III, Spain). ALB is an Investigator of the I3 Fund for Scientific Research (Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain).

Author contributions

GCB: participated in the design of the study, data acquisition and to the writing of the manuscript; CAB: participated in the acquisition of data and to the writing of the manuscript; LSA: participated in the acquisition of data and to the writing of the manuscript; APP: participated in the acquisition of data and reviewed the manuscript; FDR: participated in the acquisition of data and reviewed the manuscript; PSR: participated in the acquisition of data and reviewed the manuscript; FdZ: participated in the interpretation of data and reviewed the manuscript; LI: participated in the interpretation of data and reviewed the manuscript; JB: conceived the original idea, interpreted the data and reviewed the manuscript. ALB: conceived the original idea, interpreted the data and reviewed the manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by grants from the Carlos III Institute of Health, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain) (MS12/03239 and PI14/01625 to JB and PI16/01335 to ALB), co-funded by FEDER (European Regional Development Fund).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Endocrinology Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona, Girona, Spain

    Gemma Carreras-Badosa, Cristina Armero-Bujaldón, Anna Prats-Puig, Ferran Díaz-Roldán & Abel López-Bermejo

  2. Pediatrics, Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain

    Laia Solé-Amat, Ferran Díaz-Roldán & Abel López-Bermejo

  3. Physiotherapy, Escola Universitaria EUSES, Girona, Spain

    Anna Prats-Puig

  4. Clinical Laboratory, Fundació Salut Empordà, Figueres, Spain

    Pilar Soriano-Rodriguez

  5. Development and Regeneration, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium

    Francis de Zegher

  6. Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica San Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Lourdes Ibañez

  7. CIBERDEM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Lourdes Ibañez

  8. Maternal-Fetal Metabolic Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona, Girona, Spain

    Judit Bassols

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These authors contributed equally: Judit Bassols, Abel López-Bermejo.

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Carreras-Badosa, G., Armero-Bujaldón, C., Solé-Amat, L. et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cardiovascular disease risk factors in women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy and in their offspring at age 5–6 years. Int J Obes 42, 1019–1028 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0101-6

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