Leisure-Time Physical Activity before and during Pregnancy Is Associated with Improved Insulin Resistance in Late Pregnancy

Chenxi Cai; Zhengxiao Zhang; Samantha Mcdonald; Cody Strom; Rachel J Skow; Linda E May; Craig D Steinback; Margie H Davenport

doi:10.3390/ijerph18094413

Leisure-Time Physical Activity before and during Pregnancy Is Associated with Improved Insulin Resistance in Late Pregnancy

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 21;18(9):4413. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094413.

Authors

Chenxi Cai^{1

2

3

4

5}, Zhengxiao Zhang⁶, Samantha Mcdonald⁷, Cody Strom⁸, Rachel J Skow^{1

2

3

4

5}, Linda E May⁹, Craig D Steinback^{1

2

3

4

5}, Margie H Davenport^{1

2

3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
² Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
³ Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
⁴ Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
⁵ Alberta Diabetes Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 2T9, Canada.
⁶ Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
⁷ School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA.
⁸ Department of Kinesiology and Sport, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN 47712, USA.
⁹ School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, SC 27858, USA.

Abstract

A total of 83 third trimester pregnant women were recruited to examine the role of pre-pregnancy versus late-pregnancy physical activity on maternal insulin resistance. Principal component analysis plots demonstrated a distinction between the high and low Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) groups. The variation was driven primarily by exercise prior to and during pregnancy. Specifically, higher levels of physical activity prior to pregnancy was associated with a lower HOMA-IR and is not modified by other variables. Women who were active prior to pregnancy were more active during pregnancy. These results suggest that being active before pregnancy may be a good strategy for mitigating the risk of insulin resistance during late pregnancy.

Keywords: exercise; insulin resistance; physical activity; pregnancy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Blood Glucose
Exercise
Female
Humans
Insulin
Insulin Resistance*
Leisure Activities
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, First
Pregnancy Trimester, Third

Substances

Blood Glucose
Insulin