Obesity has long been recognized as a risk factor for problems during pregnancy. A new study reveals that obese pregnant women may have placental structural alterations.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of South Africa studied the relationship between maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy but often disappears after delivery. In the United States, between 2% and 10% of pregnancies are affected with gestational diabetes each year.
Obesity and GDM are linked to a number of maternal and fetal problems, including an increased risk of fetal mortality and stillbirth. In the study, which was published in the Journal of Physiology, 71 pregnant women of African or mixed heritage participated. 52 of them were obese, and 38 had developed type 2 diabetes.
The researchers utilized their clinical profiling, performed a comprehensive structural study and molecular analysis of the placenta, and examined biochemical measurements of mother and newborn cord blood.
Compared to gestational diabetes, maternal obesity had a greater impact on the formation of the placenta, its blood vessel density and surface area, and its ability to exchange nutrients with the developing fetus. Moreover, both obesity and GDM influence placental hormone synthesis and inflammatory indicators, indicating aberrant placental function.
The placenta is an organ that forms during pregnancy and adheres to the uterine wall. It maintains a developing baby’s life and health by supplying oxygen and nutrients and eliminating waste from the baby’s blood. The researchers caution that the study’s limited sample size makes it impossible to evaluate the effect of the fetus’s gender on these placental changes.
Obesity is connected with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and higher mortality among the general population. Obesity during pregnancy might result in major difficulties for both mother and child.
For instance, obese pregnant women may develop gestational hypertension, or high blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke or preterm birth. Preeclampsia is a severe form of gestational hypertension that often occurs in the second half of pregnancy or shortly after delivery. The disorder can cause renal and liver failure as well as placental and fetal growth issues.
Obese women might also develop obstructive sleep apnea, a disease in which a person temporarily stops breathing during sleep. This syndrome can cause weariness and raise the risk of hypertension, preeclampsia, and heart and lung conditions.
Women with gestational diabetes and obesity during pregnancy are more likely to produce children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
