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1-021 - Maternal Obesity and Nutrition during Pregnancy: Effects on Offspring Neurobehavioral Development

Thu, March 21, 9:30 to 11:00am, Baltimore Convention Center, Floor: Level 3, Room 328

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Maternal obesity and increased dietary fat during pregnancy are each associated with a range of maladaptive outcomes in offspring, though prospective studies investigating their independent and interactive effect on infant outcomes are uncommon. Increased maternal body mass index (BMI) and high levels of dietary fat are associated with increased in utero inflammation, which is purported to influence fetal brain development in ways that influence mood, behavior, and cognition. Using a unique combination of human and non-human primate studies, the current symposium will present results from a number of novel, prospective studies on the topic.

The first study reports that increased BMI is associated with greater 6-month negative affect, but only among mothers who had lower levels of plasma omega-3 fatty acids (an anti-inflammatory input), suggesting that prenatal omega-3 supplementation may buffer children against the effects of maternal BMI. The second study found that omega-6 fatty acids (pro-inflammatory) were associated with worse infant sleep quality at 3-months, but that this association was only significant for non-obese women. These results may have implications for targeted intervention. The third study utilized data from three longitudinal studies to investigate a) the complex interconnections between BMI and other prenatal exposures (e.g., maternal inflammation, mood, cortisol, sociodemographic factors), and b) novel associations between BMI and inflammation and infant cognition. The fourth study used a novel experimental nonhuman primate design to explore the relative influence of maternal Western-style diet (high in fats, sugar), maternal metabolic state, and inflammation during pregnancy on offspring inflammation and anxiety-like behavior.

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