Background: Elevated stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) activity showed associations with obesity in cross-sectional studies. In non-pregnant populations, nutrition regulates SCD-1 transcription and activity.
Objective: To investigate the longitudinal associations of maternal and fetal SCD-1 activity markers with infant anthropometry up to 2 years of age, and to explore how selected dietary intakes modulate SCD-1 activity in pregnancy.
Methods: As a secondary analysis from the ROLO intervention study, which was conducted in a population at risk for macrosomia, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) from maternal plasma at 13 and 28 weeks' gestation and in cord blood were measured via liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. Fatty acid ratios 18:1/18:0 and 16:1/16:0 were used as markers for SCD-1 activity ('desaturation indices', DIs). Relationships of DIs with infant anthropometry up to 2 years of age and maternal dietary parameters during pregnancy were investigated using adjusted linear regression models and p-values correction for multiple testing.
Results: 18:1/18:0, but not 16:1/16:0, was associated with measures of infant anthropometry at birth (maternal and fetal markers) and up to 2 years of age (maternal markers only). Dietary intakes did not show strong associations with 18:1/18:0, but 16:1/16:0 was associated with absolute and relative dietary intakes.
Conclusions: In a population at risk for macrosomia, maternal SCD-1 activity measured via 18:1/18:0 was involved in the fetal programming of infant obesity, but could not be substantially modulated by short-term diet in pregnancy.
Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN Registration number: ISRCTN54392969 (http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN54392969).
Keywords: Fatty acid metabolism; Fetal programming; Infant adiposity; Maternal nutrition; Pregnancy; Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.