Pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes and fetal growth restriction: an analysis of maternal and fetal body composition using magnetic resonance imaging

Katie M Strobel; Sevgi Gokce Kafali; Shu-Fu Shih; Alexandra M Artura; Rinat Masamed; David Elashoff; Holden H Wu; Kara L Calkins

doi:10.1038/s41372-022-01549-5

Pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes and fetal growth restriction: an analysis of maternal and fetal body composition using magnetic resonance imaging

J Perinatol. 2023 Jan;43(1):44-51. doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01549-5. Epub 2022 Nov 1.

Authors

Katie M Strobel¹, Sevgi Gokce Kafali², Shu-Fu Shih², Alexandra M Artura³, Rinat Masamed², David Elashoff⁴, Holden H Wu², Kara L Calkins⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Biostatistics and Computational Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology & Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. kcalkins@mednet.ucla.edu.

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal body composition may influence fetal body composition.

Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between maternal and fetal body composition.

Methods: Three pregnant women cohorts were studied: healthy, gestational diabetes (GDM), and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Maternal body composition (visceral adipose tissue volume (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue volume (SAT), pancreatic and hepatic proton-density fat fraction (PDFF) and fetal body composition (abdominal SAT and hepatic PDFF) were measured using MRI between 30 to 36 weeks gestation.

Results: Compared to healthy and FGR fetuses, GDM fetuses had greater hepatic PDFF (5.2 [4.2, 5.5]% vs. 3.2 [3, 3.3]% vs. 1.9 [1.4, 3.7]%, p = 0.004). Fetal hepatic PDFF was associated with maternal SAT (r = 0.47, p = 0.02), VAT (r = 0.62, p = 0.002), and pancreatic PDFF (r = 0.54, p = 0.008). When controlling for maternal SAT, GDM increased fetal hepatic PDFF by 0.9 ([0.51, 1.3], p = 0.001).

Conclusion: In this study, maternal SAT, VAT, and GDM status were positively associated with fetal hepatic PDFF.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue / metabolism
Adipose Tissue / pathology
Body Composition
Diabetes, Gestational*
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation / diagnostic imaging
Fetal Growth Retardation / pathology
Fetus / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Pilot Projects
Pregnancy

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding