Excess weight during pregnancy has been linked to maternal and foetal death, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and congenital abnormalities. Overweight individuals have an ongoing chronic state of inflammation. Morbidly obese pregnant women have premature deliveries and a higher rate of caesarian sections. Furthermore, in these women higher levels of inflammation were observed (in comparison to normal weight pregnant women). Elevated blood inflammatory cytokines were associated with higher weight gain during pregnancy and with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Optimal nutritional status during pregnancy is essential, as nutritional deficiencies have been linked with negative health risks. Vitamin B6 levels are greatly decreased in inflammatory conditions. Moreover, blood concentrations of vitamin B6 were shown to be particularly low in obese pregnant women. Low pregnancy B6 has been associated with a 4 fold increased risk for pregnancy induced hypertension and spontaneous abortion. We propose that obese pregnant women are at significant risk of low vitamin B6 status and that this will impact on their inflammatory status, which, in turn, will increase risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pregnancy induced hypertension.
We aim to measure blood concentrations of specific inflammatory biomarkers in a biobank from a previously anonymised longitudinal cohort of pregnant women. Currently available nutritional, clinical and biochemical data for the cohort will be merged with these biomarkers for statistical analysis. Outcome measurements will be comparisons and correlations between markers of inflammation, low vitamin B6 status and obesity in pregnancy. The results of this project will be presented to the relevant stakeholders.
