Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Dec 23;18(1):394.
doi: 10.1186/s12916-020-01868-4.

Gestational lipid profile as an early marker of metabolic syndrome in later life: a population-based prospective cohort study

Maria C Adank  1   2 , Laura Benschop  1   2 , Sophia P van Streun  1   2 , Anna M Smak Gregoor  1   2 , Monique T Mulder  3 , Eric A P Steegers  1 , Sarah Schalekamp-Timmermans  1   2 , Jeanine E Roeters van Lennep  4
Affiliations

Gestational lipid profile as an early marker of metabolic syndrome in later life: a population-based prospective cohort study

Maria C Adank et al. BMC Med. .

Abstract

Background: In pregnancy lipid levels increase with gestation resembling an atherogenic lipid profile. Currently it is unclear whether gestational lipid levels are associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile later in life. The aim of this study is to assess the association between gestational lipid levels and lipid levels and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) six years after pregnancy.

Methods: In plasma of 3510 women from the Generation R Study; a prospective population-based cohort, we measured lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c]), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), remnant cholesterol and non-HDL-c were calculated in early pregnancy (median 13.2 weeks, 90% range [10.5 to 17.1]) and six years after pregnancy (median 6.5 years, 90% range [6.2 to 7.8]). MS was assessed six years after pregnancy according to the NCEP/ATP3 criteria. We also examined the influence of pregnancy complications on these associations.

Results: Gestational lipid levels were positively associated with corresponding lipid levels six years after pregnancy, independent of pregnancy complications. Six years after pregnancy the prevalence of MS was 10.0%; the prevalence was higher for women with a previous placental syndrome (13.5%). Gestational triglycerides and remnant cholesterol in the highest quartile and HDL-c in the lowest quartile were associated with the highest risk for future MS, independent of smoking and body mass index.

Conclusions: Gestational lipid levels provide an insight in the future cardiovascular risk profile of women in later life. Monitoring and lifestyle intervention could be indicated in women with an unfavorable gestational lipid profile to optimize timely cardiovascular risk prevention.

Keywords: Cholesterol, LDL; Lipoproteins, HDL; Metabolic syndrome; Placental syndrome; Pregnancy; Triglycerides.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Association of maternal lipid levels in early pregnancy in quartiles with metabolic syndrome six years after pregnancy (n = 3510). Values are odds ratios (95% confidence interval) derived from multiple logistic regression analyses. Presented data are adjusted for maternal age, gestational age at blood sampling, ethnicity, educational level, parity, smoking, and folic acid supplementation. Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; Q, quartile; LDL-c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Characteristics of participants with and without metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome according to the ATP III Diagnostic criteria. Metabolic syndrome is stratified by its components. For each component, the valid percentages of participants with and without metabolic syndrome are presented. Abbreviations: HDL-c, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Williams D. Pregnancy: a stress test for life. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2003;15(6):465–471. doi: 10.1097/00001703-200312000-00002. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Mito A, Arata N, Qiu D, Sakamoto N, Murashima A, Ichihara A, Matsuoka R, Sekizawa A, Ohya Y, Kitagawa M. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a strong risk factor for subsequent hypertension 5 years after delivery. Hypertens Res. 2018;41(2):141–146. doi: 10.1038/hr.2017.100. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bergen NE, Schalekamp-Timmermans S, Roos-Hesselink J, Roeters van Lennep JE, Jaddoe VVW, Steegers EAP. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and subsequent maternal cardiovascular health. Eur J Epidemiol. 2018;33(8):763–771. doi: 10.1007/s10654-018-0400-1. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Marin R, Gorostidi M, Portal CG, Sanchez M, Sanchez E, Alvarez J. Long-term prognosis of hypertension in pregnancy. Hypertens Pregnancy. 2000;19(2):199–209. doi: 10.1081/PRG-100100136. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Chesley LC, Annitto JE, Cosgrove RA. The remote prognosis of eclamptic women. Sixth periodic report. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1976;124(5):446–459. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(76)90168-X. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms