Influence of gestational Diabetes and peri-natal events on long-term nutritional and metabolic profiles of mothers and their offspring

• Grant number: 21/14282-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: September 01, 2022 - August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Bianca de Almeida Pititto
• Grantee: Bianca de Almeida Pititto
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alexandre Archanjo Ferraro ; Fabíola Isabel Suano de Souza ; Isis Tande da Silva ; Maria Wany Louzada Strufaldi ; Patricia Medici Dualib ; Rosiane Mattar ; Sandra Roberta Gouvea Ferreira Vivolo ; Sergio Atala Dib

Abstract

Studies involving the theme of natural history of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes mellitus (DM), and its risk factors are of great relevance for planning interventions and public policies aimed at potentially modifiable factors according to local reality. Alongside with the well-known cardiometabolic risk factors (CM) - high blood pressure and glycolipid metabolism disorders -, gestational diabetes (GDM) and maternal obesity have drawn attention due to their relevant prevalence and because they increase risks of DM in the mother and of DM, obesity and associated comorbidities in the offspring in long term, indicating that early life events can influence the future health of the mother and offspring. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of GDM as well as early life events (gestational nutritional and metabolic status, type of delivery, birth weight, breastfeeding) on the nutritional and metabolic profile of women and their offspring in the medium and long term. It is intended to include 936 women who had GDM and were followed up at the Diabetes and Endocrinology Center of the Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, from 2007 to 2020, when data from the pre- and perinatal periods were compiled in a database. These women and their offspring will be invited to return to the Diabetes Center for current evaluation, based on structured questionnaires, physical examination and assessment of lipid and glucose profile including parameters of beta cell function and insulin resistance of the mother-child binomial. Blood aliquots will be stored at -80C for further analysis of interest in the scope of the research. Studies on the long-term impact of GDM and perinatal events in Brazil are scarce but necessary given the high prevalence of these morbidities and local peculiarities, related to the socioeconomic context and population miscegenation. The present study is promising to deepen knowledge in this area and identify potential intervention targets for health promotion and early prevention of cardiometabolic disease for mothers and their offspring. (AU)