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Qureshi R, Fewtrell M, Wells JCK, Dib S. The association between maternal factors and milk hormone concentrations: a systematic review. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1390232. [PMID: 39021603 PMCID: PMC11253774 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1390232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Breast milk is the gold standard for infant feeding. It is a dynamic biological fluid rich in numerous bioactive components. Emerging research suggests that these components, including hormones, may serve as signals between mother and offspring. From an evolutionary perspective, maternal hormonal signals could allow co-adaptation of maternal and offspring phenotype, with implications for their Darwinian fitness. However, a series of steps need to be considered to establish the role of a component as a signal and this systematic review focuses on one step: 'Do maternal factors influence the concentration of milk hormones?' Objective To systematically review human studies which analyze the association between maternal factors and the concentration of hormones in breast milk. Methods Three databases were searched for studies reporting the association of maternal factors including body mass index (BMI), weight, fat mass, age, ethnicity, smoking with hormones such as adiponectin, leptin, insulin, ghrelin, and cortisol in breast milk. Results Thirty-three studies were eligible for inclusion. Maternal BMI was positively associated with milk leptin (20/21 studies) and with milk insulin (4/6 studies). Maternal weight also displayed a positive correlation with milk leptin levels, and maternal diabetes status was positively associated with milk insulin concentrations. Conversely, evidence for associations between maternal fat mass, smoking, ethnicity and other maternal factors and hormone levels in breast milk was inconclusive or lacking. Conclusion Current evidence is consistent with a signaling role for leptin and insulin in breast milk, however other steps need to be investigated to understand the role of these components as definitive signals. This review represents a first step in establishing the role of signaling components in human milk and highlights other issues that need to be considered going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Fewtrell
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Sominsky L, O'Hely M, Drummond K, Cao S, Collier F, Dhar P, Loughman A, Dawson S, Tang ML, Mansell T, Saffery R, Burgner D, Ponsonby AL, Vuillermin P. Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with greater systemic inflammation and increased risk of antenatal depression. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:189-202. [PMID: 37437818 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-pregnancy obesity is an emerging risk factor for perinatal depression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the association between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and perinatal depressive symptoms in a large population-based pre-birth cohort, the Barwon Infant Study. We also assessed whether the levels of circulating inflammatory markers during pregnancy mediated this relationship. METHODS Depressive symptoms were assessed in 883 women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and psychological stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at 28 weeks gestation and 4 weeks postpartum. Glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and cytokines were assessed at 28 weeks gestation. We performed regression analyses, adjusted for potential confounders, and investigated mediation using nested counterfactual models. RESULTS The estimated effect of pre-pregnancy obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) on antenatal EPDS scores was 1.05 points per kg/m2 increase in BMI (95% CI: 0.20, 1.90; p = 0.02). GlycA, hsCRP, interleukin (IL) -1ra and IL-6 were higher in women with obesity, compared to healthy weight women, while eotaxin and IL-4 were lower. Higher GlycA was associated with higher EPDS and PSS scores and partially mediated the association between pre-pregnancy obesity and EPDS/PSS scores in unadjusted models, but this association attenuated upon adjustment for socioeconomic adversity. IL-6 and eotaxin were negatively associated with EPDS/PSS scores, however there was no evidence for mediation. CONCLUSIONS Pre-pregnancy obesity increases the risk of antenatal depressive symptoms and is also associated with systemic inflammation during pregnancy. While discrete inflammatory markers are associated with antenatal depressive symptoms and perceived stress, their role in mediating the effects of pre-pregnancy obesity on antenatal depression requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luba Sominsky
- Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Martin O'Hely
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Drummond
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sifan Cao
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona Collier
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Poshmaal Dhar
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amy Loughman
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Samantha Dawson
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mimi Lk Tang
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Toby Mansell
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Vuillermin
- Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Jovandaric MZ, Babic S, Raus M, Medjo B. The Importance of Metabolic and Environmental Factors in the Occurrence of Oxidative Stress during Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11964. [PMID: 37569340 PMCID: PMC10418910 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic changes in pregnant women begin in the first weeks after conception under the influence of placental hormones that affect the metabolism of all nutrients. An increased concentration of total lipids accompanies pregnancy and an increased accumulation of triglycerides in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) particles. Lipids in small dense LDL particles are more susceptible to oxidative modification than normal-density LDL particles. Unlike LDL high-density lipoproteins (HDL), lipoprotein particles have an atheroprotective role in lipid metabolism. The very growth of the fetus depends on the nutrition of both parents, so obesity is not only in the mother but also in the father. Nutritional programming of the offspring occurs through changes in lipid metabolism and leads to an increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Pregnancy is accompanied by an increased need for oxygen in the mitochondria of the placenta and a tendency to develop oxidative stress. Oxidative stress represents a disturbance in the balance of oxidation-reduction processes in the body that occurs due to the excessive production of free oxygen radicals that cellular homeostatic mechanisms are unable to neutralize. When the balance with the antioxidant system is disturbed, which happens when free oxygen radicals are in high concentrations, serious damage to biological molecules occurs, resulting in a series of pathophysiological and pathological changes, including cell death. Therefore, oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of many complications that can occur during pregnancy. The oxidative status of pregnant women is also influenced by socioeconomic living conditions, lifestyle habits, diet, smoking, and exposure to environmental air pollution. During a healthy pregnancy, the altered lipid profile and oxidative stress create an increased risk for premature birth and pregnancy-related diseases, and a predisposition to adult diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miljana Z. Jovandaric
- Department of Neonatology, Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Sandra Babic
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Misela Raus
- Department of Neonatology, University Children’s Hospital, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Biljana Medjo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department Pediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care, University Children’s Hospital, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Răchită AIC, Strete GE, Sălcudean A, Ghiga DV, Rădulescu F, Călinescu M, Nan AG, Sasu AB, Suciu LM, Mărginean C. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression and Anxiety among Women in the Last Trimester of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1009. [PMID: 37374213 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59061009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy represents a psychologically and emotionally vulnerable period, and research indicates that pregnant women have a higher prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression, debunking the myth that hormonal changes associated with pregnancy protect the mother. In recent years, several researchers have focused on the study of prenatal anxiety/depression-emotional disorders manifested by mood lability and low interest in activities-with a high prevalence. The main objective of this research was to conduct an antenatal screening in a cohort of pregnant women hospitalized for delivery in order to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression. The secondary objective was to identify the risk factors associated with depression and anxiety in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. We carried out a prospective study in which we evaluated 215 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy hospitalized for childbirth at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Târgu-Mureș County Clinical Hospital. The research was carried out between December 2019 and December 2021. The results showed that age and the environment of origin are the strongest predictors of mental health during pregnancy (OR = 0.904, 95%CI: 0.826-0.991; p = 0.029). For women from urban areas, there is an increased probability of falling at a higher level on the dependent variable (moderate depression) (OR = 2.454, 95%CI: 1.086-5.545; p = 0.032). In terms of health behaviors, none of the variables were statistically significant predictors of the outcome variable. The study highlights the importance of monitoring mental health during pregnancy and identifying relevant risk factors to provide appropriate care to pregnant women and the need for interventions to support the mental health of pregnant women. Especially in Romania, where there is no antenatal or postnatal screening for depression or other mental health conditions, these results could be used to encourage the implementation of such screening programs and appropriate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Ioana Cristea Răchită
- Doctoral School, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Gabriela Elena Strete
- Department of Psychiatry, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- Mental Health Center, Mureș County Clinical Hospital, 540072 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Andreea Sălcudean
- Department of Ethics and Social Sciences, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Dana Valentina Ghiga
- Department of Medical Scientific Research Methodology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Flavia Rădulescu
- Department of Endocrinology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Mihai Călinescu
- Graduate of Cluj School of Public Health, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj Napoca, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreea Georgiana Nan
- First Department of Psychiatry, Clinical County Hospital, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Andreea Bianca Sasu
- First Department of Psychiatry, Clinical County Hospital, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Laura Mihaela Suciu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic II, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Claudiu Mărginean
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic II, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology from Târgu Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
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Maternal Metabolites Indicative of Mental Health Status during Pregnancy. Metabolites 2022; 13:metabo13010024. [PMID: 36676949 PMCID: PMC9865687 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 25% of individuals report poor mental health during their pregnancy or postpartum period, which may impact fetal neurodevelopment, birth outcomes, and maternal behaviors. In the present study, maternal serum samples were collected from pregnancies at 28-32 weeks gestation from the All Our Families (Alberta, Canada) cohort and assessed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Individuals with poor mental health at 34-36 weeks gestation were age-matched with mentally healthy pregnant controls. Metabolites were examined against validated self-reported mental health questionnaires for associations with depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale) and anxiety symptoms (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). 1H-NMR metabolites were identified for depression (alanine, leucine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, glucose, lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and pyruvate) and anxiety (3-hydroxybutyrate). For ICP-MS, antimony and zinc were significant for depression and anxiety, respectively. Upon false discovery rate (FDR) correction at 10%, five 1H-NMR metabolites (alanine, leucine, lactate, glucose, and phenylalanine) for depression remained significantly increased. Although results warrant further validation, the identified metabolites may serve as a predictive tool for assessing mental health during pregnancy as earlier identification has the potential to aid intervention and management of poor mental health symptomology, thus avoiding harmful consequences to both mother and offspring.
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Almeida R, Barbosa C, Pereira B, Diniz M, Baena A, Conde A. Tobacco Smoking during Pregnancy: Women's Perception about the Usefulness of Smoking Cessation Interventions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6595. [PMID: 35682178 PMCID: PMC9180849 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco consumption during pregnancy is a serious public health problem due to its negative effects on fetal development and on pregnant women's health and well-being. Thus, it is of utmost importance to plan and implement smoking cessation interventions, to prevent the negative impact of this risk factor, namely on children's health and development. This cross-sectional study aimed at exploring the perceptions and beliefs about the usefulness of smoking cessation interventions during pregnancy, in a sample of pregnant Portuguese women. The smoking use by pregnant women, as well as the risk factors associated with tobacco smoking during pregnancy, were also analyzed. The sample included 247 pregnant Portuguese women aged between 18-43-years-old (M = 30.30, SD = 5.02): 42.5% never smoked, 18.3% quit smoking before pregnancy, 19.0% quit smoking after getting pregnant and 20.2% were current smokers. The pregnant Portuguese women who smoked during pregnancy (current smokers or who quit smoking after getting pregnant) were mostly single or divorced, with lower education levels, showed a higher prevalence of clinically significant anxiety symptoms, and perceived smoking cessation interventions during pregnancy as less useful when compared to women who never smoked or quit smoking prior pregnancy. Daily or weekly smoking cessation interventions, implemented by health professionals such as doctors, nurses, or psychologists are the ones perceived as the most useful for pregnant women. These findings provide important clues for the planning of smoking cessation interventions during pregnancy, highlighting the domains that should be carefully monitored by health professionals. Specific strategies should also be used by health professionals to promote smoking cessation considering the demands of pregnancy and postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Almeida
- Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.); (C.B.); (B.P.); (M.D.)
| | - Carolina Barbosa
- Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.); (C.B.); (B.P.); (M.D.)
| | - Bruno Pereira
- Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.); (C.B.); (B.P.); (M.D.)
| | - Mateus Diniz
- Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.); (C.B.); (B.P.); (M.D.)
| | - Antoni Baena
- eHealth Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain;
- Tobacco Control Research Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Conde
- Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.); (C.B.); (B.P.); (M.D.)
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