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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:1877.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Maternal Diet During Pregnancy and Carotid Intima–Media Thickness in Children

Catharine R. Gale; Benyu Jiang; Sian M. Robinson; Keith M. Godfrey; Catherine M. Law; Christopher N. Martyn

From the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre (C.R.G., B.J., S.M.R., K.M.G., C.N.M.), University of Southampton; and Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.M.L.), Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.

Correspondence to Dr Gale, MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, Hants SO16 6YD, UK. E-mail crg{at}mrc.soton.ac.uk

Objective— Autopsy studies show that intimal lipid accumulations in arteries are often present at birth, suggesting that the prenatal environment plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In animal models, a restricted or unbalanced maternal diet during gestation can influence susceptibility to atherosclerosis, but the relation in humans between maternal diet during pregnancy and atherogenesis is unknown.

Methods and Results— We measured carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) in 216 nine-year-old children whose mothers had participated in a study of nutrition during pregnancy. IMT was greater in boys, in children who were heavier, in those with higher systolic blood pressure, and in those who took less exercise. Increased IMT was associated with a lower maternal energy intake in early (P=0.029) or late (P=0.006) pregnancy, after adjustment for these factors. Mean IMT of children whose mothers were in the lowest quarter of the distribution of energy intake in late pregnancy was 0.027 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.004 to 0.049) greater than that of those whose mothers were in the highest quarter of the distribution.

Conclusion— Lower maternal energy intake during pregnancy may increase the susceptibility to atherogenesis of the child.

A restricted maternal diet during gestation can lead to endothelial dysfunction in animals. We studied the relation between maternal diet during pregnancy and IMT in children. IMT was greater in children whose mothers had lower energy intakes. Lower maternal energy intake during pregnancy may increase the susceptibility to atherogenesis of children.

Key Words: carotid arteries • atherosclerosis • pregnancy • diet • children

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