The Relationship between Maternal Glucose Concentration and Mothers Conditions in Pregnancy and BMI of Infants and School-Aged Children

Objective: The high prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in Iran and its maternal and fetal consequences as well as the high risk of its long-term effects including obesity is known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) in ages of ۱۸ months and ۶ years and maternal glucose concentration. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on ۱۹۹ pairs of mother and child in five health-care centers of Yazd. The children born in ۲۰۰۷ and ۲۰۰۸ were selected, followed by a calculation of BMI in the ages of ۱۸ months and ۶ years (school age) based on their heights and weights recorded in their family files. The relationship between the resulting BMI and maternal glucose concentration and pregnancy conditions was then determined. Results A population of ۱۹۹ mother-child pairs were investigated consisting of ۱۰۵ male children (۵۲.۸%) and ۹۴ female ones (۴۷.۲ %). The mean (±SD) glucose challenge test (۵۰ gram -GCT) and pre-pregnancy BMI were ۱۲۱(۲۵.۷) mg/dL and ۲۴.۱۶ (۴.۸۵) kg/, respectively. At ۱۸ months, the mean (±SD) child BMI was ۱۵.۷۸ (۱.۲۱) kg/, ۵.۵% of which were overweight/obese and at ۶ years, the mean (±SD) child BMI was ۱۴.۴۶ (۱.۸۱) kg/, ۱۲.۶% of which were overweight/obese. This study revealed a significant association between BMI ۱۸ months and ۶ years and pre-pregnancy BMI with maternal GCT (P-value <۰.۰۰۳). Therefore, GCT ≥ ۱۳۰ mg/dL compared with GCT <۱۲۹ mg/dL significantly associated with BMI at ۱۸ months and ۶ years old and the mother's pre-pregnancy BMI. Conclusion: According to this study, it can be concluded that there is a significant correlation between GCT and the increase of children BMI. It is necessary to control and treat gestational diabetes mellitus by means of decrease the intergenerational cycle of obesity and diabetes in offspring. Also infants of women with diabetes should be specifically targeted for obesity prevention programs.

Keywords:

Glucose screening test , Obesity , Pregnancy , Gestational diabetes mellitus , Child health