Maternal diet but not gestational weight gain predicts central adiposity accretion in utero among pregnant adolescents

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Modifiable risk factors during pregnancy, such as diet and weight gain, are associated with fetal birth weight but little is known about how these factors influence

fetal fat acquisition _in utero_ among pregnant adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (ppBMI), gestational weight gain (GWG) and dietary intake during

pregnancy influence fetal fat accretion _in utero_. METHODS: Longitudinal data were obtained from 121 pregnant adolescents enrolled in a study designed to identify determinants of maternal

and fetal bone changes across gestation. Adolescents (ages 13–18 years) completed up to three study visits during early, mid- and late gestation. Maternal anthropometrics, 24 h dietary

recalls and measures of fetal biometry were obtained at each visit. Fetal abdominal wall thickness (abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, AbFat), a measure of fetal subcutaneous fat, was

calculated by sonography at each visit. Statistical determinants of AbFat during late pregnancy were explored using simple and multiple regression. RESULTS: During late pregnancy (34.8±2.0

weeks; range 31.0–40.6 weeks of gestation), the median (inter-quartile range) fetal AbFat and GWG were 0.44 (0.39, 0.55) cm and 14.6 (9.5, 18.3) kg, respectively. After adjusting for infant

birth weight, variables significantly associated with fetal AbFat included gestational age (_P_<0.0001, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.01, 0.03), maternal race (_P_=0.029, 95% CI: −0.04,

−0.002) and dietary intake of added sugar (_P_=0.025, 95% CI: 1.42e–6, 2.06e–5). Fetal AbFat had a significant positive quadratic relationship with total maternal dietary sugar intake such

that both low and high extremes of sugar consumption were associated with significantly higher fetal AbFat. Birth weight was not significantly associated with maternal intake of added

sugars. CONCLUSION: Extreme sugar intakes among pregnant adolescents may lead to increased accumulation of fetal abdominal fat with little net effect on birth weight. This finding suggests

that increased sugar consumption during pregnancy promotes shifts in fetal body composition. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content,

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NEWBORN BODY COMPOSITION Article 28 January 2021 MACRONUTRIENT INTAKE DURING PREGNANCY IN WOMEN WITH A HISTORY OF OBESITY OR GESTATIONAL DIABETES AND OFFSPRING ADIPOSITY AT 5 YEARS OF AGE

Article Open access 08 February 2021 MID-PREGNANCY WEIGHT GAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH OFFSPRING ADIPOSITY OUTCOMES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD Article 17 October 2020 REFERENCES * Olausson PO,

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American pregnant women. _Obstetr Gynecol Int_ 2012; 2012: 878607. Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Tera Kent for sample processing and laboratory

analyses, the University of Rochester Medical Center Midwifery Group and Allison McIntyre for their assistance in sample collection and patient care, as well as the adolescents who

generously participated in this study. Data analysis for this manuscript was supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2005-35200 and 2012-67012-19815

from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Sources of Support: USDA Grant No. 2005-35200. USDA/NIFA Grant No. 2012-67012-19815. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS *

Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA C M Whisner & K O O'Brien * Pediatric Nutrition, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA B E Young * The

University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA E K Pressman, R A Queenan & E M Cooper Authors * C M Whisner View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * B E Young View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * E K Pressman View author publications You can also search for this

author inPubMed Google Scholar * R A Queenan View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * E M Cooper View author publications You can also search

for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * K O O'Brien View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to K O

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Whisner, C., Young, B., Pressman, E. _et al._ Maternal diet but not gestational weight gain predicts central adiposity accretion _in utero_ among pregnant adolescents. _Int J Obes_ 39,

565–570 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.202 Download citation * Received: 05 May 2014 * Revised: 14 October 2014 * Accepted: 10 November 2014 * Published: 03 December 2014 * Issue

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