This research project aims to investigate, in an innovative way, the molecular pathophysiology of gestational complications induced by maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). These complications have an immediate impact on obstetric outcomes - such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction - as well as long-term consequences for the health of the mother and child. This proposal aims to advance the understanding of the relationship between subclinical maternal and placental inflammation with dietary components through a prospective cohort of pregnant women. To this end, a prospective cohort of pregnant women will be conducted with four follow-up waves: 13th-20th (baseline), 24th-28th, 32nd-36th gestational weeks and at the time of delivery. Retrospective data referring to the first trimester of pregnancy will be obtained from the medical records. Pregnant women will be invited to participate in the study by registering at the prenatal service. Women who start prenatal care with less than 13 weeks of gestation will be registered, for capture in the 2nd consultation. The initial sample calculation is 120 volunteers. Maternal blood samples will be collected at 2 times: 2nd trimester appointment and 3rd trimester appointment. Placental and umbilical cord blood samples will be collected immediately after delivery. Dietary consumption during pregnancy will be assessed by 2 24-hour recalls at each visit (1 in person and 1 by telephone). The identification of functional biomarkers in maternal blood and placenta will serve for prognostic purposes of gestational complications such as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. The identification of dietary factors associated with obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus and associated complications will provide information that will serve as a basis for nutritional guidelines for pregnant women.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
120
Maternidade Escola da UFRJ
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Maternal redox homeostasis
Redox homeostasis will be assessed in maternal blood using a biological assay to measure the capacity of the sample to prevent the oxidation of a known fluorescence probe, in the presence of an oxidant. The unit of measure is concentration of plasma expressed as equivalent to a know antioxidant (after performing a calibration curve).
Time frame: between 24th and 28th gestational week
Maternal redox homeostasis [change]
Redox homeostasis will be assessed in maternal blood using a biological assay to measure the capacity of the sample to prevent the oxidation of a known fluorescence probe, in the presence of an oxidant. The unit of measure is concentration of plasma expressed as equivalent to a know antioxidant (after performing a calibration curve).
Time frame: between 34th and 35th gestational week
Fetal (cord blood) redox homeostasis
Redox homeostasis will be assessed in maternal blood using a biological assay to measure the capacity of the sample to prevent the oxidation of a known fluorescence probe, in the presence of an oxidant. The unit of measure is concentration of plasma expressed as equivalent to a know antioxidant (after performing a calibration curve).
Time frame: At delivery
Placental redox homeostasis
Redox homeostasis will be assessed in maternal blood using a biological assay to measure the capacity of the sample to prevent the oxidation of a known fluorescence probe, in the presence of an oxidant. The unit of measure is concentration of plasma expressed as equivalent to a know antioxidant (after performing a calibration curve).
Time frame: At delivery
Maternal inflammatory profile
Inflammatory profile will be assessed in maternal blood using a commercial kit to measure cytokines using ELISA assay, expressed as concentration per volume of sample.
Time frame: between 24th and 28th gestational week
Maternal inflammatory profile [change]
Inflammatory profile will be assessed in maternal blood using a commercial kit to measure cytokines using ELISA assay, expressed as concentration per volume of sample.
Time frame: between 34th and 35th gestational week
Fetal (cord blood) inflammatory profile
Inflammatory profile will be assessed in maternal blood using a commercial kit to measure cytokines using ELISA assay, expressed as concentration per volume of sample.
Time frame: At delivery
Placental inflammatory profile
Inflammatory profile will be assessed in maternal blood using a commercial kit to measure cytokines using ELISA assay, expressed as concentration per volume of sample.
Time frame: At delivery
Maternal metabolic profile
Metabolic profile will be assesses in maternal blood using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance metabolomics which measure small molecules (\<1,500 Da) in the biological sample. The unit is intensity of the peak measured in a known volume/mass of sample obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra
Time frame: between 24th and 28th gestational week
Maternal metabolic profile [change]
Metabolic profile will be assesses in maternal blood using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance metabolomics which measure small molecules (\<1,500 Da) in the biological sample. The unit is intensity of the peak measured in a known volume/mass of sample obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra
Time frame: between 34th and 35th gestational week
Fetal (cord blood) metabolic profile
Metabolic profile will be assesses in maternal blood using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance metabolomics which measure small molecules (\<1,500 Da) in the biological sample. The unit is intensity of the peak measured in a known volume/mass of sample obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra
Time frame: At delivery
Placental metabolic profile
Metabolic profile will be assesses in maternal blood using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance metabolomics which measure small molecules (\<1,500 Da) in the biological sample. The unit is intensity of the peak measured in a known volume/mass of sample obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra
Time frame: At delivery
Placental mitochondrial function at delivery
Mitochondrial function will be assessed using an electrode sensitive to oxygen which measures the decrease in oxygen tension in the chamber after addition of substrates and modulators of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. This will be assessed in placental tissue and the units is concentration of oxygen per mass per time.
Time frame: At delivery
Placental lipid metabolism
To investigate the alterations in lipid metabolism as a function of pre-gestational maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus. Lipid metabolism will be assessed by lipid analysis using mass spectrometry to identify the major categories and lipid species in maternal, fetal and placental tissue. The unit is relative abundance per mass of tissue and volume of plasma.
Time frame: At delivery
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