The relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and allopregnanolone levels: a longitudinal study
Objective: Large weight gain during pregnancy is a risk factor for complications for mother and fetus. Hunger and satiety are regulated in the hypothalamus, where the gamma-amino-butyric acid system (GABA) has an important role. Allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, increases during pregnanc...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bioscientifica
2017-05-01
|
| Series: | Endocrine Connections |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.endocrineconnections.com/content/6/4/253.full |
| Summary: | Objective: Large weight gain during pregnancy is a risk factor for complications for mother and fetus. Hunger and satiety are regulated in the hypothalamus, where the gamma-amino-butyric acid system (GABA) has an important role. Allopregnanolone, a
progesterone metabolite, increases during pregnancy and is a potent GABA-A receptor modulating steroid. Allopregnanolone has been shown to induce overeating in rodents. The aim was to investigate whether there is a relationship between weight gain and allopregnanolone concentrations during pregnancy in humans.
Design: A longitudinal, cohort study.
Methods: Pregnant women (n = 56) were recruited in primary care in northern Sweden. Allopregnanolone concentrations in plasma were measured using radioimmunoassay and weight was measured in gestational weeks 12 and 35.
Results: Weight increase correlated significantly to allopregnanolone in late pregnancy increase (rs = 0.320; P = 0.016), indicating a positive relationship between weight increase
and allopregnanolone increase. A positive relationship was also noted between allopregnanolone in the 35th gestational week and weight increase. Women who gained ≥11 kg during pregnancy showed higher allopregnanolone concentrations in week 35 and higher increase compared to women who increased <11 kg (P = 0.006 and P = 0.009 resp.). There was no difference in weight or allopregnanolone concentrations at the onset of pregnancy.
Conclusions: The results show a relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and increase in allopregnanolone concentrations. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2049-3614 2049-3614 |