Pregnancy determinants of child growth and neurodevelopment: adiposity, gestational diabetes mellitus and diet
Saros, Lotta (2025-11-07)
Pregnancy determinants of child growth and neurodevelopment: adiposity, gestational diabetes mellitus and diet
(07.11.2025)
Turun yliopisto
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-02-0359-7
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-02-0359-7
Kuvaus
ei tietoa saavutettavuudesta
Tiivistelmä
Maternal lifestyle and health during pregnancy may have far-reaching effects on the health of children. The aim in this thesis was to investigate the extent to which adiposity, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and diet in pregnancy influence the growth and neurodevelopment of children up to 5–6 years of age. Also, the impact of maternal fish oil and/or probiotics intervention on a child’s growth was studied.
The mothers, with overweight or obesity, were randomised into intervention groups (fish oil + placebo, probiotics + placebo, fish oil + probiotics, placebo + placebo) from early pregnancy onwards. The mothers were followed throughout pregnancy and their children for 5–6 years postpartum (n=159–373). The growth data (0–2 years) were collected from welfare clinic cards and body composition was measured by an air displacement plethysmography (2 years). Neurodevelopmental assessments were performed at 2 and 5–6 years of age. Diet (diet patterns from food diaries, Index of Dietary Quality) and body composition were evaluated in early and late pregnancy. GDM was diagnosed by an oral glucose tolerance test. The data were analysed using linear/logistic regression models and Pearson/Spearman correlations.
A good dietary quality in pregnancy associated with an increased height and head circumference standard deviation score (SDS) at 0–2 years, but a lower adiposity in children at 2 years. GDM led to a lower infantile head circumference SDS while a higher maternal body fat mass to an increased height and head circumference SDS at 0–12 months. Maternal consumption of probiotics was associated with lower weight and lower odds for overweight in children at 2 years. Considering neurodevelopment, a good dietary quality and a healthy dietary pattern in pregnancy associated with better expressive language and motor skills in children at 2 and 5–6 years. GDM associated with less favourable language skills in children while a higher maternal body fat percentage and fat mass associated with less favourable cognitive, language, and motor skills at 2 and 5–6 years.
A health-promoting diet as well as consumption of probiotics during pregnancy by mothers with overweight or obesity, which are risk groups for pregnancy-related complications such as GDM, likely support their children’s growth and neurodevelopment.
The mothers, with overweight or obesity, were randomised into intervention groups (fish oil + placebo, probiotics + placebo, fish oil + probiotics, placebo + placebo) from early pregnancy onwards. The mothers were followed throughout pregnancy and their children for 5–6 years postpartum (n=159–373). The growth data (0–2 years) were collected from welfare clinic cards and body composition was measured by an air displacement plethysmography (2 years). Neurodevelopmental assessments were performed at 2 and 5–6 years of age. Diet (diet patterns from food diaries, Index of Dietary Quality) and body composition were evaluated in early and late pregnancy. GDM was diagnosed by an oral glucose tolerance test. The data were analysed using linear/logistic regression models and Pearson/Spearman correlations.
A good dietary quality in pregnancy associated with an increased height and head circumference standard deviation score (SDS) at 0–2 years, but a lower adiposity in children at 2 years. GDM led to a lower infantile head circumference SDS while a higher maternal body fat mass to an increased height and head circumference SDS at 0–12 months. Maternal consumption of probiotics was associated with lower weight and lower odds for overweight in children at 2 years. Considering neurodevelopment, a good dietary quality and a healthy dietary pattern in pregnancy associated with better expressive language and motor skills in children at 2 and 5–6 years. GDM associated with less favourable language skills in children while a higher maternal body fat percentage and fat mass associated with less favourable cognitive, language, and motor skills at 2 and 5–6 years.
A health-promoting diet as well as consumption of probiotics during pregnancy by mothers with overweight or obesity, which are risk groups for pregnancy-related complications such as GDM, likely support their children’s growth and neurodevelopment.
Kokoelmat
- Väitöskirjat [3031]