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. 2015 Aug 12:15:166.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-015-0574-4.

Changes in the biochemical and immunological components of serum and colostrum of overweight and obese mothers

Mahmi Fujimori  1 , Eduardo L França  2 , Vanessa Fiorin  3 , Tassiane C Morais  4   5 , Adenilda C Honorio-França  6 , Luiz C de Abreu  7
Affiliations

Changes in the biochemical and immunological components of serum and colostrum of overweight and obese mothers

Mahmi Fujimori et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Obesity in pregnancy is associated with systemic inflammation, immunological changes and adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. Information on the association between maternal obesity and breast milk composition is scarce. This study describes changes and relationships between biochemical and immunological parameters of colostrum and serum of overweight and obese women.

Methods: Colostrum and blood samples were collected from 25 normal weight, 24 overweight and 19 obese women for determination of glucose, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, immunoglobulins, complement proteins (C3 and C4), fat and calorie content and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Results: Glucose was higher in colostrum of obese women (p = .002). In normal weight and obese women, total protein content was higher in colostrum than in serum (p = .001). Serum triglycerides (p = .008) and cholesterol (p = .010) concentrations were significantly higher in overweight and obese women than in their normal weight counterparts, but in colostrum their concentrations were similar across the three groups. Secretory IgA (sIgA) in colostrum and IgA in serum concentrations were significantly higher (p = .001) in overweight and obese mothers, whereas IgG and IgM concentrations did not vary among the groups (p = .825). Serum C3 (p = .001) and C4 (p = .040) concentrations were higher in obese women. No differences in colostrum complement proteins were detected among the groups. Calorie content (p = .003) and fat (p = .005) concentrations in colostrum and serum CRP (p = .002) were higher in obese women.

Conclusions: The results corroborate the hypothesis that colostrum of overweight and obese women undergoes biochemical and immunological changes that affect its composition, namely increasing glucose concentrations, calorie content, fat and sIgA concentrations.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Fat a and calories b in the colostrum of normal, overweight and obese mothers. Data presented as mean ± standard error (SE). F(A) = 7.27; p = .005; F(B) = 6.90; p = .003. *Statistically significant differences between normal and obese groups. †Statistically significant differences between overweight and obese groups
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CRP concentrations in the colostrum a and serum b of normal, overweight and obese mothers. Data presented as mean ± standard error (SE). F = 12.30; p = .002 comparing the groups; F = 20.71; p = .001 comparing the samples (colostrum and serum). * Statistically significant differences between normal and obese groups. †Statistically significant differences between overweight and obese groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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