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No associations of prenatal maternal psychosocial stress with fasting glucose metabolism in offspring at 5–6 years of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2014

A. E. van Dijk ,
M. van Eijsden ,
K. Stronks ,
R. J. B. J. Gemke  and
T. G. M. Vrijkotte
A. E. van Dijk*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
M. van Eijsden
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD), Amsterdam, the Netherlands Intitute of Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
K. Stronks
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
R. J. B. J. Gemke
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
T. G. M. Vrijkotte
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: A. E. van Dijk, MSc, Academic Medical Center, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, the Netherlands. (Email [email protected])
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Abstract

Highly prevalent maternal psychosocial complaints are accompanied by increases in glucocorticoid stress hormones, which may predispose the offspring for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in adulthood. The aim of the current research is to study whether prenatal maternal psychosocial stress is associated with parameters of blood glucose metabolism in their children aged 5–6 years. The study design was a prospective birth cohort (the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study, the Netherlands). Depressive symptoms, pregnancy-related anxiety, parenting daily hassles and job strain were recorded by questionnaire (gestational week 16). A cumulative score was also calculated. Possible sex differences in the associations were considered. The subjects were 1952 mother–child pairs. Outcome measures were fasting glucose (n=1952), C-peptide and insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) (n=1478) in the children at the age of 5–6 years. The stress scales, single and cumulative, were not associated with glucose/C-peptide/insulin resistance (all P>0.05). We did not find evidence for sex differences. In conclusion, we did not find evidence for an association between psychosocial stress during early pregnancy and parameters of glucose metabolism in offspring at the age of 5–6 years. Differences emerging later in life or in response to a metabolic challenge should not be ruled out.

Keywords

glucosepregnancypsychologicalstressmetabolism
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 5 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 361 - 369
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2014 

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